1、Designation: F 360 82 (Reapproved 2006)Standard Practice forImage Evaluation of Electrostatic Business Copies1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 360; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of la
2、st revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONThe evaluation of the images obtained from various types or models of office copy systems canbecome a complicated proce
3、ss, requiring carefully prepared test masters and expensive test equipment.The copying needs of individuals and firms also vary considerably as does their ability to evaluateresults reported in technical terms. It is, however, within the capability of most persons interested inthe results obtained f
4、rom copying systems to subjectively and visually compare prints reproducedfrom originals that are pertinent to their copying requirements.1. Scope1.1 This practice guides the user toward preparing anoriginal test subject, meaningful to his specific copying needsand to suggest ways in which the test
5、subject may be used toevaluate images from office copy systems.1.2 Additional evaluation of image characteristics are cov-ered in Practice F 807 and Test Method F 875.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is theresponsibility of
6、the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2F 807 Practice for Determining Resolution Capability ofOffice CopiersF 875 Test Method for Evaluation of
7、Large Area Densityand Background on Office Copiers3. Summary of Practice3.1 This practice involves the preparation of one or moretest originals and their reproduction. Subjective comparisons ofthe test original(s) to the copies allow the user to evaluate theusefulness of the copy system for his need
8、s.4. Significance and Use4.1 Subjective evaluations of copies made from test origi-nals can be used to determine the usefulness of a given copysystem in a specific user application. Since many variablesoperate to affect the copy quality at any given time, smallchanges in quality may not have any pra
9、ctical significance formany users.5. Interferences5.1 Many copy systems are subject to variation due tofluctuations of line voltage. It is conceivable that such fluctua-tions may cause a normally useful system to give poor results.The manufacturer should be consulted regarding the need forvoltage-st
10、abilizing devices which can usually be easily in-stalled.5.2 Results from copy systems can vary depending upon thelength of time the system has been operating. The first printafter a system has been shut down for a weekend, for instance,can be of a different quality than subsequent prints made after
11、some time of operation.5.3 Excessively high or low relative humidity can also causevariations in performance, not encountered under normalconditions.5.4 Variations in copy system performance over relativelylong periods can occur. It is recommended that the testprocedure be replicated after a suffici
12、ent period to determinelong-term stability.5.5 Suppliers for copy systems are often purchased fromseveral sources and can affect the results obtained from a givencopy system.1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F05 on BusinessImaging Products and is the direct responsibility of
13、 Subcommittee F05.04 onElectrostatic Imaging Products.Current edition approved June 1, 2006. Published June 2006. Originallyapproved in 1972. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as F 360 82 (2001).2For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Servic
14、e at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.1Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.5.6 Due to normal cycling within some copiers,
15、 minorvariations in copy quality attributes such as density may beobserved from one copy to the next within a given copy run.6. Test Original6.1 More than one test subject may be required due tovarying copying needs. The test subject or subjects shouldreflect the users specific copying needs and mig
16、ht be singlesheets of paper, or bulky objects, such as books or magazines,should copying such items be considered important. Assumingmost copying is of single sheets of material, guides forpreparation of such a test original are given:6.1.1 Pick an original of the dimension, basis weight,caliper, st
17、iffness, brightness, gloss, and color pertinent. Onecan use letterheads, invoices, accounting sheets, purchaseorders, or whatever else might be meaningful.6.1.2 On the sheet chosen, produce images with, for in-stance, carbon paper, typewriter ribbons, pens, pencils, rubberstamps, halftones, continuo
18、us tones, and colors of the densityor contrast of interest. One can use tape or glue to fastenspecific images to the test sheet. Care must be taken in certaincopiers, that this does not cause jamming of the original. Largeblocks of solid density can be added if desired.6.1.3 An area free of any imag
19、e should be left on the testsheet. It should be at least 112 by 112 in. (38.1 by 38.1 mm)and located, preferably at the bottom edge of the test sheet.This can be used to evaluate background coloration of thecopy.6.1.4 Have some reference lines or printing extending toeach edge of the test subject. T
20、his will allow evaluation of theability to copy to an edge.6.1.5 It is useful to have lines of known length drawnhorizontally and vertically across the test sheet. Measurementsof these lines on the copy will yield information regardingmagnification or reduction in the copy.7. Procedure7.1 Using the
21、test subject prepared above a procedure mustbe established for producing copies in a controlled manner. Thecopy system is best evaluated at the site of its proposedinstallation under the line voltage conditions which normallyapply. Manufacturers instructions on operation of the copiermust be read, u
22、nderstood, and followed.7.1.1 Load supplies into the copier. Follow manufacturersdirections for adjustments of various controls.7.1.2 Turn on the copier.7.1.3 Set exposure control, if one is provided, to either endof the exposure range.7.1.4 Using test subject, make a copy. Note exposuresetting, if
23、copier has an exposure control, and date on copy, aswell as information concerning temperature and relative hu-midity.7.1.5 Vary exposure control, if one is provided, and makecopies at various settings. Note setting, date, temperature andrelative humidity on each copy. If an exposure control isprovi
24、ded, it must always be varied from the same direction.7.1.6 Visually determine optimum setting of any controls,which is the one yielding the best copy, in your opinion.7.1.7 At the optimum setting, make the number of copiesthat would constitute a normal length of run. This will allowcomparison of co
25、py uniformity. The test original should beplaced or fed into the copier in the same orientation each timeand the optimum exposure setting must be set from the samedirection on the exposure control device, should one beavailable.7.1.8 At the optimum setting, reverse the orientation of thetest origina
26、l placed or fed into the copier and make a copy. Thiscan then be compared to previous copies to determine possibleoriginal orientation variations.8. Copy Evaluation8.1 In evaluating the optimum result from a copy systemunder test, the following points might be examined:8.1.1 Density or relative blac
27、kness of characters.8.1.2 Development of large solid image areas; are they filledin evenly or is there a density variation?8.1.3 Color and cleanliness of background.8.1.4 Fixation or drying speed.8.1.5 Freedom from streaks.8.1.6 Uniformity of copy.8.1.7 Size reduction or enlargement from original.8.
28、1.8 Fidelity of copy compared to the original in reproduc-ing varying densities and, if the copy system can reproducecolors as they appear in the original, how well this is done.8.1.9 Ability to read copy to the edge.8.1.10 Distortion of characters.8.1.11 Reproduction of pictorial illustrations.8.1.
29、12 Reproduction of colored lines and characters.8.2 The results generated during the performance of thisrecommended practice may be filed for reference againstresults obtained after a suitable period of time in order to noteany long term variation of quality.9. Precision and Bias9.1 When this practi
30、ce is used to compare equipment or testsupplies, or both, the results have been found to be repeatablewithin a laboratory if the equipment, supplies, test conditions,and personnel are held as constant as possible. Because theinterpretation of results is dependent upon the subjectivity ofthe observat
31、ions and varying preferences from one consumer tothe next, repeatability is not necessarily anticipated betweenlaboratories particularly when more than one piece of equip-ment or set of supplies are compared.10. Keywords10.1 business copiers; image quality; image quality evalua-tion; office copiersF
32、 360 82 (2006)2ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentionedin this standard. Users of this standard are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the riskof infringement of s
33、uch rights, are entirely their own responsibility.This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible technical committee and must be reviewed every five years andif not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for add
34、itional standardsand should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of theresponsible technical committee, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you shouldmake your views known to t
35、he ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.This standard is copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959,United States. Individual reprints (single or multiple copies) of this standard may be obtained by contacting ASTM at the aboveaddress or at 610-832-9585 (phone), 610-832-9555 (fax), or serviceastm.org (e-mail); or through the ASTM website(www.astm.org).F 360 82 (2006)3
