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What is Single Prints or Tails in Market Profile?

• By MarketProfileHQ Team
What is Single Prints or Tails in Market Profile?

Single prints and tails are crucial Market Profile concepts that identify areas where price didn’t spend much time. Understanding these areas helps you identify weak zones, potential targets, and high-probability trading opportunities on Indian exchanges.

What are Single Prints?

Single prints are price levels where only one TPO (Time Price Opportunity) letter appears, indicating that price only traded at that level during one time period. These areas represent weak zones where price didn’t find acceptance.

Characteristics of Single Prints

Single Print Features:

  • One TPO letter: Only one letter at that price level
  • Minimal time: Price spent very little time there
  • Low volume: Typically low volume at these levels
  • Weak acceptance: Price not accepted at this level
  • Likely to fill: Price often returns to fill single prints

Types of Single Prints

Upper Single Prints:

  • Single prints above Value Area
  • Weak resistance
  • Price likely to return
  • Potential breakout area

Lower Single Prints:

  • Single prints below Value Area
  • Weak support
  • Price likely to return
  • Potential breakdown area

What are Tails?

Tails are extended single print areas that form when price moves quickly through a price range without spending time there. They appear as long vertical lines of single TPO letters.

Characteristics of Tails

Tail Features:

  • Extended single prints: Multiple single prints in a row
  • Quick price movement: Price moved through quickly
  • No acceptance: Price didn’t find acceptance
  • Weak zone: Weak support/resistance
  • Fill potential: Price often returns to fill

Types of Tails

Upper Tails:

  • Tails above Value Area
  • Price rejected from above
  • Weak resistance area
  • Potential reversal zone

Lower Tails:

  • Tails below Value Area
  • Price rejected from below
  • Weak support area
  • Potential reversal zone

Why Single Prints and Tails Matter

Market Psychology

Single Prints/Tails Indicate:

  • Price rejection: Price rejected from that area
  • Lack of acceptance: No acceptance at those levels
  • Weak zones: Weak support/resistance
  • Fill potential: Price likely to return

Trading Implications

Single Prints/Tails Mean:

  • Weak support/resistance: Not strong levels
  • Target areas: Price may return to fill
  • Breakout potential: May break through
  • Reversal signals: Potential reversal areas

Using Single Prints and Tails for Trading

Single Print Fill Strategy

Setup:

  1. Identify single prints
  2. Wait for price to return
  3. Enter on fill
  4. Target Value Area

Entry:

  • Enter when price returns to single print area
  • Confirm with structure
  • Use tight stops
  • Target Value Area or POC

Exit:

  • At Value Area
  • When single prints filled
  • At stop loss
  • On reversal

Tail Fill Strategy

Setup:

  1. Identify tails
  2. Wait for price to return
  3. Enter on fill
  4. Target Value Area

Entry:

  • Enter when price returns to tail area
  • Confirm with volume
  • Use tight stops
  • Target Value Area

Exit:

  • At Value Area
  • When tail filled
  • At stop loss
  • On continuation

Single Print Breakout Strategy

Setup:

  1. Identify single prints
  2. Wait for price to approach
  3. Enter on break
  4. Target extension

Entry:

  • Enter on break of single print area
  • Confirm with volume
  • Use tight stops
  • Target extension

Exit:

  • At extension target
  • When structure breaks
  • At stop loss
  • On reversal

Single Prints vs Multiple Prints

Single Prints

Characteristics:

  • One TPO letter
  • Minimal time
  • Low volume
  • Weak acceptance
  • Fill potential

Trading:

  • Weak support/resistance
  • Target for fills
  • Breakout potential
  • Reversal signals

Multiple Prints

Characteristics:

  • Multiple TPO letters
  • More time spent
  • Higher volume
  • Strong acceptance
  • Strong support/resistance

Trading:

  • Strong support/resistance
  • Important levels
  • High probability areas
  • Consolidation zones

Common Patterns

Single Prints Above Value Area

Pattern:

  • Single prints above Value Area
  • Price rejected from above
  • Weak resistance
  • Price likely to return

Trading:

  • Watch for return to fill
  • Enter on fill
  • Target Value Area
  • Use as weak resistance

Single Prints Below Value Area

Pattern:

  • Single prints below Value Area
  • Price rejected from below
  • Weak support
  • Price likely to return

Trading:

  • Watch for return to fill
  • Enter on fill
  • Target Value Area
  • Use as weak support

Tails on Trend Days

Pattern:

  • Long tails in trend direction
  • Price moving quickly
  • No acceptance
  • Trend continuation

Trading:

  • Follow the trend
  • Enter on pullback
  • Target extensions
  • Use trailing stops

Common Mistakes

1. Treating Single Prints as Strong Levels

Problem:

  • Treating single prints as strong support/resistance
  • Wrong expectations
  • Poor entries
  • Missed opportunities

Solution:

  • Understand single prints are weak
  • Trade accordingly
  • Use proper strategy
  • Don’t expect strong reactions

2. Not Waiting for Fill

Problem:

  • Entering too early
  • Not waiting for price to return
  • Premature entries
  • Higher risk

Solution:

  • Wait for price to return
  • Confirm the setup
  • Enter on fill or break
  • Reduce risk

3. Ignoring Context

Problem:

  • Not considering overall structure
  • Missing context
  • Wrong interpretation
  • Poor trades

Solution:

  • Always check context
  • Consider market structure
  • Use with other tools
  • Complete analysis

Real-World Examples

Example 1: Single Print Fill

Setup:

  • Value Area: 19,200 - 19,300
  • Single prints: 19,310 - 19,330 (above Value Area)
  • Price: Returns to 19,310

Analysis:

  • Single prints above Value Area
  • Price returning to fill
  • Weak resistance
  • Fill potential

Trade:

  • Enter long on fill of single prints
  • Stop: Below 19,310
  • Target: Value Area (19,300)
  • Result: Price fills, reaches target

Example 2: Tail Breakout

Setup:

  • Value Area: 19,200 - 19,300
  • Tail: 19,150 - 19,190 (below Value Area)
  • Price: Breaks above tail

Analysis:

  • Tail below Value Area
  • Price breaking above
  • Weak support broken
  • Bullish signal

Trade:

  • Enter long on break above tail
  • Stop: Below tail
  • Target: Value Area (19,200)
  • Result: Price reaches target

Tools for Identifying Single Prints and Tails

Professional single print and tail identification requires:

  • TPO chart visualization
  • Clear single print identification
  • Tail pattern recognition
  • Historical analysis

Vtrender provides professional Market Profile tools to help you identify single prints and tails on Indian exchanges.

Best Practices

  1. Identify correctly: Learn to identify single prints and tails
  2. Understand context: Always check market structure
  3. Wait for setup: Wait for price to return or break
  4. Use proper strategy: Trade with appropriate strategy
  5. Manage risk: Always use stops

Conclusion

Single prints and tails are important Market Profile concepts that identify weak price zones. By understanding these areas and how to trade them, you can identify high-probability fill and breakout opportunities on Indian exchanges.

Start identifying single prints and tails with Vtrender’s professional Market Profile tools and improve your trading on NSE and BSE.

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