Hickeys
Hickeys are small, usually round printing defects caused by debris interrupting ink transfer. They often appear as:
- A small spot, void, or ring
- A dot that looks like a tiny “donut”
- A small speck where the printing looks broken or imperfect
They can show up anywhere, but they’re most noticeable in smooth areas like:
- Light backgrounds
- Skin tones
- Flat tints
- Large solids
Consumers often describe hickeys as:
- “Random dots”
- “Little circles”
- “Tiny holes in the print”
- “Specks that repeat on multiple pages”
Also Known As: Spots, donuts, ink voids, pinholes (sometimes), debris spots, dirt spots, paper lint marks, picking spots (when paper fibers are involved).
In simple terms: something got between the printing surface and the paper, so the ink didn’t transfer cleanly.
What causes hickeys?
Hickeys are almost always caused by foreign material in the printing process. That material can come from the paper, the press, or the surrounding environment.
1) Paper dust, lint, or fibers
Paper can shed tiny fibers and dust, especially:
- On rougher uncoated stocks
- When paper edges are trimmed
- In dry environments where static increases lint attraction
Those fibers can stick to rollers or blankets and create repeated spots.
2) Dried ink or ink skin
If small bits of ink dry and break loose (from the ink system or around the press), they can become hard particles that cause a classic donut-shaped hickey.
3) Coating or filler particles (paper-related)
Some papers contain fillers and coatings that can:
- Loosen as fine particles
- Collect on blankets/rollers
- Interrupt ink transfer
4) Press contamination (powder, spray, debris)
In many printing operations, powders and sprays are used to prevent set-off. If these build up or clump, they can create spot defects.
Also, general airborne debris can settle on:
- Blankets
- Plates
- Paper surfaces
5) Picking (paper surface pulling up)
Sometimes the paper surface itself lifts slightly (called picking) and that tiny torn fiber becomes the debris that creates repeated hickeys.
This is more likely with:
- Weaker paper surfaces
- High tack inks
- Heavy coverage areas
How to identify hickeys in a book
What it looks like
Look for:
- Small round dots or circles
- Tiny unprinted “holes” in printed areas
- Donut/ring shapes in solids or tints
- A speck that looks like it has a lighter center or a broken edge
Hickeys can be:
- Darker than the surrounding area (extra ink gathers around debris)
- Lighter than the surrounding area (ink can’t reach the spot)
- Ring-shaped (classic)
Where it shows up most
- Light photo areas (skin tones, sky)
- Smooth gradients
- Flat background tints
- Large solid ink areas (especially dark solids)
Simple at-home checks
Check A: Does it repeat?
Hickeys often repeat because the debris sticks to a roller/blanket and marks multiple sheets.
Flip through several pages:
- If you see the same type of spot repeatedly, it strongly suggests hickeys
Check B: Are they circular?
Circular/donut shapes are a strong clue. Random irregular blobs can be something else (smear, handling mark, paper defect).
Check C: Is it on top of the print or “in” the print?
Hickeys look like part of the printing—interrupting ink transfer—rather than a stain sitting on top of the paper.
Common look-alikes (and how to separate them)
1) Dirt or handling spots (post-print)
If the spot looks like it sits on the surface (like a stain), it may be handling/contamination after printing.
Hickeys usually have a structured print defect look (ring, void, edge buildup).
2) Ink splatter
Splatter often looks more random and irregular, not donut-like. Hickeys are usually more “defined” and often repeat.
3) Paper inclusions
Paper can have tiny specks or inclusions visible in the sheet.
Clue: if the speck is visible in unprinted areas and doesn’t interact with ink edges, it may be a paper defect rather than a printing defect.
4) Mottling
Mottling is patchy tone variation across an area. Hickeys are distinct individual spots.
Impact on book quality and readability
Readability
On text pages, a few hickeys usually don’t stop reading, but they can:
- Distract the reader
- Make pages look dirty or flawed
Image quality
Hickeys can be very noticeable in photos, especially:
- Skin tones
- Smooth backgrounds
- Subtle gradients
Even a few spots can ruin the perceived quality of an image-heavy book.
Perceived quality
Because hickeys look like random contamination, consumers often interpret them as:
- “Dirty printing”
- “Poor quality control”
- “Something got into the ink”
Industry standards and “acceptable tolerances”
Hickeys are generally treated as defects, but acceptability depends on:
- Frequency (how many)
- Location (important images vs random area)
- Visibility (do they jump out?)
Usually acceptable
- Very occasional tiny specks that are hard to notice
- A few minor spots in non-critical areas
Usually not acceptable
- Repeated spots across many pages
- Spots in faces, key images, or large smooth areas
- Clusters of hickeys that make pages look dirty
- Hickeys that appear in consistent positions repeatedly (suggesting ongoing contamination)
A useful rule of thumb: If the spots keep catching your eye as you read or look at images, they’re likely beyond normal variation.
What you can do as a buyer
- If hickeys appear repeatedly or ruin important images, requesting a replacement is reasonable
Helpful wording for support: "Pages have repeated circular spots/voids (hickeys/spots) likely caused by debris and interrupted ink transfer."