Automated Print Quality Analysis in Inkjet Printing: Case Study Using Commercially Available Media

A methodology for automated analysis of print quality in inkjet printing has been developed and tested on 32 commercially available media. The methodology is based on an understanding of the phenomenology of ink-media interactions and their impact on print quality and user perception. The automated print quality analysis system described has a comprehensive set of built-in tools for quantifying the fundamental image elements and their quality attributes. These include dots (dot gain, shape and size), lines (width, sharpness, edge roughness, optical density, contrast and modulation), and solid areas (media roughness, image noise, optical density, tone reproduction and color). Our case study clearly demonstrates the efficacy and advantages of the automated system, in particular the speed of data acquisition and analysis, and the objectivity and reliability of measurements. In this paper, the design of the system is described, the test results are presented, and applications of the system in product planning, research, development and quality control are discussed.