A printing system is disclosed. The printing system includes at least one physical memory device to store defective print element determination logic and one or more processors coupled with the at least one physical memory device to execute the defective print element determination logic to receive a print image comprising evaluation marks and locator marks applied to a print medium by a plurality of pel forming elements according to print instructions and identify pel forming elements associated with print defect pels in the print image among the plurality of pel forming elements based on the evaluation marks, the locator marks and the print instructions.