1、Designation: F1423 09Standard Practice forDetermination of the Quality of Monochrome ImagesProduced from Non-Impact Personal Computer Printers1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1423; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the
2、 case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon () indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope1.1 This practice utilizes a standard test target that isintended for use as a means of com
3、paring the graphic and textoutput quality from non-impact personal computer printers.The output may be from ink jet, thermal transfer, or electro-static imaging devices.1.2 This target can be used by the end-user as a means ofdetermining the suitability of a non-impact printer for use withcommercial
4、ly available software and a predetermined applica-tion.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility
5、 of regulatory limitations prior to use.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2F909 Terminology Relating to PrintersF1125 Terminology of Image Quality in Impact PrintingSystemsF1174 Practice for Using a Personal Computer Printer as aTest Instrument2.2 ASTM Adjunct:Image Quality Test Target for N
6、on-Impact PC PrintingSystems33. Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 hairlinethe thinnest line a particular printer willprint.3.1.2 jitterdeviation in a printed test pattern that is causedby: erratic rotation of the photoreceptor or erratic paper feeding(noticeable in the vertical plane); or erratic sca
7、nning oralignment, or both, of the imaging device (noticeable in thehorizontal plane). The imaging device can be either a laserdiode, ink-jet nozzle(s), or a thermal printhead.3.1.3 pointa typographical term describing the height of acharacter from top to bottom. One point equals approximately172 in
8、.3.1.4 stairsteppingthe tendency of a printer to produceangular or circular lines, or both, in a series of dots that, whenexamined closely, resemble stair steps. Ideally a printer shouldproduce angular or circular lines, or both, with a smooth,unnoticeable transition from dot to dot.3.2 See Terminol
9、ogies F909 and F1125 for additional defi-nitions related to this practice.4. Significance and Use4.1 This test target can be used for control or evaluation ofthe graphic and text output of imaging products or as a researchand development tool.4.2 This test target can be produced by most non-impactpe
10、rsonal computer printers.5. Interferences5.1 This test target was generated using commerciallyavailable software. Consequently, the quality of the printed testtarget may not be indicative of the absolute resolution or imagequality, or both, that a printer may produce (direct programingof the printer
11、 may produce the best results).5.2 Paper supplies can be purchased from several sourcesand can affect the image quality of a given system. The usershould use only the grade and basis weight of paper recom-mended by the printer manufacturer when evaluating imagequality. All paper supplies should be f
12、rom the same source andproduction lot. Some inherent variability within the paper mayaffect image quality evaluations as will certain unintentional1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F05 on BusinessImaging Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F05.04 onElec
13、trostatic Imaging Products.Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2009. Published February 2009. Originallyapproved in 1997. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as F1423 97(2008).DOI: 10.1520/F1423-09.2For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service
14、at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Available from ASTM International Headquarters. Order Adjunct No.ADJF1423. Original adjunct produced in 1992.Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive,
15、PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United StatesNOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information1paper defects. Some variability may be encountered from oneream of paper to the
16、 next or sometimes encountered within aream.6. Apparatus Required to Produce Test Target6.1 Computer with one of the following operating systems:Windows 98, 2000, NT, Me, XP, Vista, Server 2003 or MACOS9.x/X version 10.2+.6.2 Printer Interface using one of the following types:serial, parallel, USB,
17、10/100BaseTX Ethernet, Coax/Twinax.6.3 Test Targets are available from ASTM or from ISO.6.4 Print Drivers can have an effect on image quality and asuitable or consistent print driver is recommended. The printdriver and version should be included with test data.6.5 Magnifier or Optical Comparator, th
18、e power of which isjudged acceptable by the evaluator.6.6 Paper, recommended for use by the printermanufacturer, paper in common use in the facility where theprinter is used.7. Printing the Test Target7.1 Set up the PC and printer in accordance with PracticeF1174 and follow the manufacturers instruc
19、tions.7.2 Load the paper into the feed tray so that the image isproduced on the side designated by the paper or equipmentmanufacturer.7.3 Follow the instructions included with the test targetdiskette. The program may take several minutes to load into theprinters memory.7.4 Run the desired number of
20、test targets.8. Evaluation of Test Target8.1 Use of a magnifier or optical comparator for evaluationof the printed target is at the discretion of the evaluator.Examine the entire target for extraneous markings or spots.See Fig. 1.8.2 Items 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D are positioned to theoutermost edges of t
21、he original test target and serve a threefoldpurpose:8.2.1 Since these items are positioned on the edge of thepage, the white space around the perimeter of the printed targetrepresents the “void” areathat is the area on the page wherethe printer will not image. The remaining printed area repre-sents
22、 the maximum print area allowable by the printer. Exam-ine and record the void area or the maximum print area fromthe printed target.8.2.2 Items 1A and 1B can also be used as scales to aid inmaking a rough estimate of the void or maximum print area.Items 1A and 1B are graduated in increments of18 in
23、.8.2.3 Items 1C and 1D can also be used as “jitter” scales.Any deviation of the pattern (inconsistent spacing of the lines)is easily distinguished by the human eye. Examine the patternsfor any irregularities.8.3 Items 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are solid black images thatcan be used to determine the density
24、 of the image on differentareas of the target. These images may be inspected ormeasured, or both, using a densitometer. Examine the imagesfor edge fill and voids. Compare the density of each of theboxes to the others on the page.8.4 Items 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D are intended to demonstratehow accurately
25、the printer can produce an unfilled circle.Examine the circle for appearance, line width, and “stairstep-ping” effect.8.5 Items 4A and 4B consist of seven concatenated boxeswith various levels of halftones (10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %,60 %, 80 %, and 100 %). These items are intended to demon-strate how a
26、ccurately the printer can produce each level.Inferior imaging systems will show disproportionate changesbetween levels. For example, some printers may saturate an80 % halftone while others may show little discernible differ-ence between a 10 % and a 20 % halftone. Examine the degreeof shading in eac
27、h box. Variations in shading within individualhalftones may be indicative of excessive “jitter.”8.6 Items 5A and 5B are intended to demonstrate howaccurately the printer can produce closely spaced diagonallines. Some printers may produce 5B so that it resembles ahalftone while others may produce eas
28、ily distinguishablediagonal lines. Examine each item for appearance, line width,and stairstepping effect. Variations in shading within individualhalftones may be indicative of excessive “jitter.”8.7 Items 6A and 6B are intended to demonstrate howaccurately the printer can produce a long diagonal lin
29、e fromcorner to corner on the test target. Examine the lines forappearance, straightness, and stairstepping effect. Examine thewidth of the lines and the appearance of their intersection at thecenter of Item 7. Note that some printers may alleviate thestairstepping effect by producing a thicker line
30、, the quality ofwhich is determined by the preference of the evaluator (alsorefer to 8.11). The intended width of the lines are “hairline” (adesktop publishing term), which is the thinnest line a particularprinter will print. A comparison of the measured length of eachdiagonal line indicates the “sq
31、uareness” of the image.8.8 Item 7 is intended to demonstrate how accurately theprinter can reproduce a series of concentric boxes. Examine theboxes for consistent spacing from one box to the next andensure that the lines are parallel in both planes. Examine theline width and the corners of each box
32、for appearance. Also,examine the appearance, placement, and accuracy of thecentermost boxit should be nearly quartered by Items 6Aand6B.8.9 Items 8A and 8B are a series of negative and positivelines. The thinnest line is hairline width and the remaining linesare in point sizes (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, a
33、nd 12 point). These itemsare intended primarily to compare line widths produced fromdifferent printers. Since these items are expressed in a unit ofmeasurement, there should be no difference in line width fromone printer to the next. Examine the lines for appearance andline width. Compare the differ
34、ences in width between negativeand positive lines of the same width. Note that because of thenuances in the addressable resolution of some printers, hori-zontal or vertical lines, or both, of incorrect width may beproduced.F1423 0928.10 Item 9 is a series of characters in Courier typeface witha poin
35、t size of 12. These characters represent decimal values033 to 175 from the IBM character set. Examine the charactersfor appearance, spacing, and consistency of line width. Notethat the Courier typeface may vary from printer to printer.8.11 Items 10 and 11 are composed of hairline width lines ofvaryi
36、ng shallow angles. Examine each line for stairsteppingeffect, straightness, and consistency of line width. Note thatsome printers may alleviate stairstepping effect by producing aFIG. 1 Image Quality Test TargetF1423 093thicker line, the quality of which is determined by the prefer-ence of the evalu
37、ator. The degree of thickening of the angledlines can be determined by comparing their thickness to thethickness of the horizontal and vertical lines.9. Report9.1 Interpretation of the results should be made by oneevaluator.9.2 Suitability of the maximum print area is determined bythe application re
38、quired by the end user.9.3 Any evidence of jitter may be indicative of the quality ofconstruction or the amount of use on the printer.9.4 The density of the image may be adjusted by means ofthe print contrast control of the printer. The absolute density isindicative of the capabilities of the imagin
39、g process or theprinter, or both.9.5 The degree of stairstepping may be indicative of theresolution of the printer. Note that some printers may alleviatestairstepping by producing a thicker line, the quality of whichis determined by the preference of the evaluator.9.6 Proportionate and discernible c
40、hanges in the levels ofhalftones are indicative of the resolution, effectiveness of theimaging process, or the quality of the printer. Note that changesin the contrast control on some printers may affect the qualityof reproduction of halftones.9.7 Differences in the density of one of the boxes (in t
41、hefour corners of the target) to the next may be indicative of poorprinter/print cartridge quality or faulty manufacturing toler-ances. For example, differing density of boxes in the samehorizontal plane may be indicative of poor photoreceptorquality for electrostatic printers or inconsistent platen
42、 orprinthead clearances for thermal transfer or ink-jet printers.Differing density of boxes in the same vertical plane may beindicative of poor toner refresh rate or photoreceptor qualityfor electrostatic printers or inconsistent platen or printheadclearances for thermal transfer or ink-jet printers
43、.9.8 The amount of spots or extraneous marks on the printedtarget may be indicative of the quality of the printer, supplies,or the amount of usage already on the printer.10. Keywords10.1 computer printers; image quality; test targetASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any
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