Paper profile and reading systems
View Patent ↗Methods, systems, computer readable media and other means for generating a profile for a particular type of media are provided. The profile represents a set of preferred printing parameters to be used to achieve a target print quality for a reference printing device. The profile may be used by other non-reference printing devices in order to optimize printing for that type of media. For each non-reference printing device, an offset may be established that represents the differences between the non-reference and the reference printing devices. A processor of the non-reference printing device may identify the type of media and the profile for that media and then adjust the printing parameters for the non-reference printing device based on the profile and the offset in order to optimize the print quality. The profile may also include a parameter that is based on a temperature coefficient associated with the type of printer.
1. A method comprising:
selecting a reference printing device;
receiving a targeted media;
printing a test pattern at a first applied energy value to the target media;
printing at least one other test pattern at a second applied energy value to the target media;
determining a first print quality for the test pattern at the first applied energy value;
determining a second print quality for the other test pattern at the second applied energy value;
printing a first test pattern to the target media at a first print speed;
printing at least one additional test pattern to the target media at a second print speed;
determining a print quality for the test pattern at the first print speed;
determining an additional print quality for the at least one additional test pattern at the second print speed;
generating a profile for the targeted media; and
generating a non-reference printer offset for at least one non-reference printer.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
printing a test pattern at a first ambient temperature to the target media;
printing at least on additional test pattern at a second ambient temperature to the target media;
determining a print quality for the test pattern at the first ambient temperature; and
determining a print quality for the at least one additional print pattern at the second ambient temperature.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the profile is based on a detected ambient temperature.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the profile is based on the reference printer.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining print quality of a test pattern comprise determining the density of the test pattern.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the density of the test pattern is determined using a reflective-type sensor.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a printing quality is based on the intended reader.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein if the intended reader is a human the print quality is based on a density in a black visible level.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein if the intended reader is a machine the print quality determination is based on a grey visible level.
10. A apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
receive a targeted media;
print a test at a first applied energy value pattern to the target media;
print at least one other test pattern at a second applied energy value to the target media;
determine a first print quality for the test pattern at the first applied energy value;
determine a second print quality for the other test pattern at the second applied energy value;
print a first test pattern at a first print speed to the target media;
print at least one additional print pattern at a second print speed to the target media;
determine a print quality for the test pattern at the first print speed;
determine an additional print quality for the at least one additional print pattern at the second print speed;
generate a profile for the targeted media; and
generate a non-reference printer offset for at least one non-reference printer.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to:
print a test pattern at a first ambient temperature to the target media;
print at least on additional test pattern at a second ambient temperature to the target media;
determine a print quality for the test pattern at a first ambient temperature; and
determine a print quality for the at least one additional print pattern at the second ambient temperature.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the profile is based on a detected ambient temperature.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the profile is based on a reference printer.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein determining print quality of a test pattern comprise determining a density of the test pattern.
15. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code portions stored therein, the computer-executable program code portions comprising program code instructions configured to:
receive a targeted media;
print a test at a first applied energy value pattern to the target media;
print at least one other test pattern at a second applied energy value to the target media;
determine a first print quality for the test pattern at the first applied energy value;
determine a second print quality for the other test pattern at the second applied energy value;
print a first test pattern at a first print speed to the target media;
print at least one additional print pattern at a second print speed to the target media;
determine a print quality for the test pattern at the first print speed;
determine an additional print quality for the at least one additional print pattern at the second print speed;
generate a profile for the targeted media; and
generate a non-reference printer offset for at least one non-reference printer.
16. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable program code portions further comprise program code instructions configured to:
print a test pattern at a first ambient temperature to the target media;
print at least on additional test pattern at a second ambient temperature to the target media;
determine a print quality for the test pattern at a first ambient temperature; and
determine a print quality for the at least one additional print pattern at the second ambient temperature.
17. The computer program product of claim 16 , wherein the profile is based on a detected ambient temperature.
18. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein the profile is based on a reference printer.
19. The computer program product of claim 15 , wherein determining print quality of a test pattern comprise determining a density of the test pattern.