Colour proof

A test printing of an single colour or way taken prior to a multicoloured item being printed. Items cut from colour proofs are sometimes offered to collectors as genuine items. Any mint examples cut from colour proofs might be collected as a curiosity but they should be considered as waste from the printing process having no value. 

However, used examples from colour proofs can be an indicator of prevailing economic constraints or quality standards and their brevity in production can make them sought after. See also printer’s proof and printer’s pull.