Method to determine a characteristic of a printing system
A method and a system for determining a characteristic of a printing system, the printing system including a printing device and a receiving substrate. Data from a pattern printed on the receiving substrate by the printing device are analyzed. Based on the analysis, an artifact characteristic of the printing system is determined automatically.
1. A method for predicting an image quality characteristic of a second printing system comprising a printing device and a receiving substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) printing a first set of test patterns using a first range of values of a printing parameter on at least one first printing system;
(b) obtaining measurements of a first image quality characteristic on said first set of test patterns for said first range of said printing parameter;
(c) visually assessing a second image quality characteristic as a function of said printing parameter on said first set of test patterns;
(d) obtaining a correlation between said first and said second image quality characteristics;
(e) printing a second set of test patterns using a second range of said printing parameter on the second printing system;
(f) obtaining measurements of said first image quality characteristic on said second set of test patterns for said second range of the printing parameter;
(g) selecting one of the first range of values of the printing parameter for said second printing system; and
(h) predicting a second image quality characteristic based on said first image quality characteristic using said correlation.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said printing parameter is an ink amount.
3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising the step of determining a gamut of said second printing system, said gamut corresponding to said selected ink amount.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said printing parameter is selected to obtain a given aim value for said second image quality characteristic.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first set of test patterns includes:
a first line pattern having first lines and a first amount of white space between said first lines; and
a second line pattern having second lines and a second amount of white space between said second lines; and
wherein said first amount of white space is different from said second amount of white space.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said receiving substrate is suitable for newsprint.
7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said first image quality characteristic is a color value.
8. A method according to claim 1 , wherein said second image quality characteristic is ink bleeding.
9. A system for predicting an image quality characteristic of a second printing system, the system comprising:
data describing a correlation between a first measured image quality characteristic and a second visually assessed image quality characteristic obtained from printing a first set of test patterns on a first printing system using a first range of values of a printing parameter;
data describing measurements of said first image quality characteristic on a second set of test patterns printed on the second printing system using a second range of printing parameters;
means for selecting one of the values of the printing parameter;
means for obtaining the first image quality characteristic from said selected printing parameter using said measurements; and
means for predicting said second image quality characteristic from said first image quality parameter using said correlation.
10. A system according to claim 9 , wherein said printing parameter is an ink amount.
11. A system according to claim 10 , further comprising means for determining a gamut corresponding to a selected ink amount.
12. A computer readable medium comprising computer code instructions to be executed on a computer for predicting an image quality characteristic of a second printing system comprising a printing device and a receiving substrate, the computer code comprising:
instructions for obtaining data describing a correlation between a first measured image quality characteristic and a second visually assessed image quality characteristic obtained from printing a first set of test patterns on a first printing system using a first range of values of a printing parameter;
instructions for obtaining data describing measurements of said first image quality characteristic on a second set of test patterns printed on the second printing system using a second range of the printing parameter;
instructions for selecting one of the printing parameter;
instructions for obtaining a first image quality characteristic from said selected printing parameter using said measurements; and
instructions for predicting said second image quality characteristic from said first image quality parameter using said correlation.
13. A computer readable medium according to claim 12 , wherein said printing parameter is an ink amount.
14. A computer readable medium according to claim 12 further comprising instructions for determining a gamut corresponding a selected ink amount.