>> I tried
>>
>> ```
>> \markup \with-dimensions #empty-interval #empty-interval {
>> ... }
>> ```
>>
>> and the padding to the next score gets still applied. I suspect
>> that the 'empty interval' trick only works for stuff within a score
>> but not on the top level.
>
> I'd be tempted to call that a bug: it runs contrary to the idea of
> "only spacing" in markup. Of course, having implemented that
> concept myself, you could consider me to blame, and also there would
> be the question of just how to position a watermark when the spacing
> specific to its own kind of vertical element is not being applied.
> Probably just next to the preceding element.
It would be cool if this worked some day. However, the next best
thing would probably be to allow negative widths and heights for
`\markup` boxes (if set with `\with-dimensions` and friends).
Werner
