A technique for determining the amount of surface debris a paper contains. Dry dusting consists of running a number of sheets of the paper to be tested (200, for instance) through a press containing a clean black blanket. A strip of cellophane tape is attached to the blanket and then pulled off (to remove the debris from that portion of the blanket covered by the tape). A densitometer is used to examine the dirty and clean areas of the blanket, and the difference in reflection density indicates the amount of debris generated by the paper.
Dry dusting examines superficial surface debris (see also Pickout), which consists of lint, fines, fiber or coating particles generated during cutting and trimming, or general overhead dust. This material can result in various printing defects such as hickeys and specks.