1、Designation: F 1174 01 (Reapproved 2006)Standard Practice forUsing a Personal Computer Printer as a Test Instrument1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1174; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the case of revision, the yea
2、r of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope1.1 This practice covers a standardized procedure utilizing aprinter of the type normally associated with a personal
3、 com-puter as an imaging device when the performance properties ofpaper and imaging system components are measured. Bothimpact and nonimpact systems may be tested.1.2 Impact printer technologies include full character anddot matrix.1.3 Nonimpact printer technologies include laser printers,direct the
4、rmal printers, thermal transfer printers, and ink jet.1.4 Printers not included are those associated with largecomputer systems commonly known as high-speed printers.See Practice F 1175 for testing involving those systems.1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns, if an
5、y, 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 of regulatory limitations prior to use.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D 685 Practice for Conditioning Paper and Paper Pr
6、oductsfor TestingD 5039 Test Methods for Identification of Wire Side ofPaperF 221 Terminology Relating to Carbon Paper and InkedRibbon Products and Images Made TherefromF 909 Terminology Relating to PrintersF 1125 Terminology of Image Quality in Impact PrintingSystemsF 1175 Practice for Using the Co
7、mputer Impact Print-OutUnit as a Test Instrument for Manifold Comparison2.2 ANSI Standards:PH 2.17 Density Measurements-Geometric Conditions forReflection DensityPH 2.18 Density Measurements-Spectral Conditions3. Terminology3.1 DefinitionsRefer to Terminology F 909.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific
8、to This Standard:3.2.1 direct thermal printera thermal printer in which theheated dots in the printhead form the image on a coated papercontaining the imaging materials, producing a color formationcorresponding to the dot pattern on the printhead.3.2.2 printer speedthe rate at which a printer operat
9、es,measured in characters per second (CPS), lines per minute(LPM), pages per minute (PPM), or inches per second (IPS).3.2.3 thermal printera printer in which a pattern of dots ina thermal printhead are heated, causing image forming reac-tions on chemically treated ribbon or paper.3.2.4 thermal trans
10、fer printera thermal printer in whichthe heated dots in the printhead softens the ink on a ribbon orpaper, causing it to transfer to paper much like an impactprinter. An alternate process involves the use of a resistiveribbon and a printhead with dots that are electrically activated,causing current
11、to flow through a resistive ribbon with animage-forming coating. The heat generated with the currentflow causes the coating to soften and transfer to the paper.4. Summary of Practice4.1 This practice consists of using a printer, of the typenormally associated with personal computers, under specified
12、conditions, to prepare images that are used to evaluate paper orother imaging system components.4.2 Care should be exercised in making comparisons, in thatonly one variable at a time should be evaluated. An examplewould be comparing several papers in one laser printer.4.3 This practice includes noni
13、mpact printers having imag-ing technologies including laser, direct thermal, thermal trans-fer, or ink jet LED, LCS, and magnetography. It also includesimpact printers involving technologies such as full character ordot matrix types.4.4 This practice may also be used to compare the imagequality of p
14、rinters that are capable of being operated at morethan one speed.1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F05 on BusinessImaging Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F05.03 onResearch.Current edition approved June 1, 2006. Published June 2006. Originallyapprove
15、d in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 2001 as F 1174 01.2For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM websit
16、e.1Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.4.5 This practice does not include computer printers usingimaging technology provided by raised images on belts, chains,or drums. Practice F 1175 addresses those imaging systems.5. Si
17、gnificance and Use5.1 This practice is intended to provide a means of evalua-tion of comparative image quality relative to paper, imagingsystem components, printer speeds, and printer models.6. Interferences6.1 Many printers are subject to imaging system variationsdue to fluctuation of line voltage.
18、 Voltage-stabilizing devicescan be used. If a stabilizing device is not used, tests shall be runat periods where the line load is low or stabilized.6.2 The densitometer or reflectometer readings will alsovary with voltage fluctuations. Use the same procedures as in6.1.6.3 In visual comparison, care
19、should be taken not toconfuse width of line or area with intensity.6.4 Fluctuations of temperature and humidity will affect thepaper used for image reception. Tests run on different dayscould show variation in results. All tests shall be dated withtemperature and relative humidity recorded (see 10.1
20、).6.5 Certain characteristics are common to all imaging sys-tems. Other characteristics are peculiar to the individualimaging systems. The technicians should apply their knowl-edge of the imaging system when evaluating images.6.6 To ensure the best results when evaluating the imagequality of ink jet
21、 and thermal printers, use the paper recom-mended by the manufacturer or a suitable substitute.7. Apparatus7.1 PrinterIn normal use for the application.7.2 DensitometerAn instrument meeting the requirementsof ANSI PH 2.17 and PH 2.18 shall have an aperture diameterthat shall be greater than two time
22、s the height of a line of type.8. Materials and Manufacture8.1 PaperIf a variable other than paper is to be evaluated,the paper used should be one in common use in the facilitywhere the printer is used. Tests should be run on the wire sideof the paper (see Test Methods D 5039).8.2 Imaging System Com
23、ponentsWhen an imaging sys-tem component is to be evaluated, a sufficient amount of theimaging material should be available in the printer so thatreplenishment or change in component would not be necessarywhile the test is being conducted. Examples would be the inkreservoir of an ink jet printer, an
24、d toner supply in a laserprinter, or ribbon in a thermal transfer printer.9. Calibration and Standardization9.1 Adjust the printer to be used to prepare the images inaccordance with the manufacturers recommendations.9.2 For image evaluation using visual means (see 12.1),either use a test program int
25、egral to the printer which producesall characters in upper and lower case, or program thecomputer associated with the printer so that the full set ofcharacters is produced.9.3 For the reflection density test (see 12.2), develop aprogram utilizing graphic pattern spacing so as to give acontinuous ove
26、rall image that does not involve any overlappingprinting.NOTE 1ASCII Character #219 provides a suitable block pattern.10. Conditioning10.1 Testing shall be conducted in an environment withstable conditions of temperature and relative humidity. Thepaper, printer, and supplies should be conditioned fo
27、r 24 h inthe area in which the test will be conducted. If available,Method D 685 standard conditions 50.0 6 2.0 % relativehumidity and 23.0 6 1.0C (73.4 6 1.8F) should be used.11. Procedure for Preparing Image11.1 Paper Evaluation:11.1.1 Check that the imaging system is performing satis-factorily an
28、d that it contains sufficient imaging material tocomplete the test without replenishment or change.11.1.2 Insert the paper to be tested, in accordance with theprinter manual, but avoid printing on watermarks or imperfec-tions in the paper.11.1.3 Operate the printer at a constant speed and produce am
29、inimum of ten characters horizontally across the sheet andten lines of characters down; three built-in test patterns; or atest pattern appropriate to the component being tested. If theprinter speed is adjustable, repeat the procedure at those speedsas appropriate. Note the printer speed in the margi
30、n adjacent tothe copy.11.1.4 Remove the test paper. Be careful to avoid anysmudging of the pattern of printed images.11.1.5 Produce identical image and test patterns on controlpaper and other papers to be evaluated in accordance with11.1.2 through 11.1.4 with the same imaging system compo-nents and
31、printer setup. Note side of paper imaged.11.2 Imaging Material Evaluation:11.2.1 Follow essentially the same procedure as describedin 11.1.1 through 11.1.5, except the variable to be changed andevaluated shall be a component of the imaging system.Examples would be a change in ink for an ink jet prin
32、ter, intoner for a laser printer, or a ribbon for a thermal transfer orimpact printer. The same lot of paper should be used through-out the test, and printer speed should be adjusted if appropriate.11.3 Printer Evaluation:11.3.1 Use of original equipment and manufacturer-recommended imaging material
33、s and paper is suggested forprinter comparison evaluation.11.3.2 Use essentially the same procedure described in11.1.1 through 11.1.5 except make a comparison on differentprinters.11.3.3 If the printers evaluated will not accept the sameimaging system components, use one designed for the printeror f
34、rom the same component manufacturer and so indicate. Ifthe imaging system components are changed, the methodevaluates the printer-component combination and not theprinter alone.F 1174 01 (2006)211.3.4 If the printers being evaluated do not have the sametype size, style, pitch, etc., to produce the p
35、attern described in11.1.3, the evaluation of the image by reflection density asdescribed in 12.2 cannot be conducted. Further, the visualevaluation may be compromised because of the differences inthe image and should be so noted in the report.12. Evaluation of Comparative Image Quality12.1 Visual Me
36、ans:12.1.1 Visually compare the test and control product im-ages. Image evaluation may be improved by using magnifica-tion, such as 103 hand lens, a binocular microscope, or byproduction and examination of photomicrographs. When usingany magnified or photographic techniques, care should betaken to m
37、ake certain that magnification and illumination arethe same for all images. Report magnification used. A smallaperture densitometer may be used to aid in image evaluation.12.1.2 The images should be compared for relative value ofthe following examples:12.1.2.1 Intensity,12.1.2.2 Sharpness,12.1.2.3 C
38、leanliness,12.1.2.4 Legibility,12.1.2.5 Character fill-in, and12.1.2.6 Other characteristics as appropriate to differenttechnologies.NOTE 2The user of the method should be familiar with the featuresand characteristics of the imaging technology of the images beingevaluated in 12.1.2.6. The other five
39、 characteristics are common to allprinting.12.2 Reflectance Measurement:12.2.1 ApparatusReflectometer or reflection densitometershall meet the requirements for daylight luminous reflectancein accordance with ANSI PH 2.17 and PH 2.18. The lightsource and receptor of the reflectometer shall be as desc
40、ribed inANSI PH 2.17 and PH 2.18, namely Illuminant C, andobserved by illuminosity (y) function.12.2.2 CalibrationThe densitometer or reflectometershould be calibrated using primary and secondary standardsdescribed in ANSI PH 2.17 and PH 2.18.12.2.3 Measurement:12.2.3.1 Place the test specimen on a
41、black backing asdescribed in ANSI IT 2.171995 (ISO 5-4) Annex A1.12.2.3.2 Place the printed test specimen produced in Section11 under the viewing head of the instrument, and read the valueof percent reflectance or optical density obtained on thespecimen. A reading should be taken from five or moredi
42、fferent areas of the imaged material. The average and rangeof the readings are recorded.12.3 Evaluation of Character-Forming MechanismExamine the individual characters produced in 11.4 for anyevidence of broken images.13. Report13.1 Visual Means:13.1.1 Establish a ranking order for the characteristi
43、csevaluated in 12.1 by comparing paired samples on the basis ofequal to, above, or below.13.1.2 The ranking order may be different for the variouscharacteristics evaluated.13.1.3 Some personal judgment will be required in equatingmerits of the various characteristics. For example, a low-density imag
44、e of high sharpness may be preferred to ahigh-density image with ragged edges.13.2 Reflectance Density:13.2.1 Establish a ranking order based on reflectance den-sity.13.2.2 Use the ranking order to supplement the visualranking order.13.3 An overall ranking order based on the combinedranking of 13.1
45、and 13.2.13.4 Conditions of test (10.1).14. Keywords14.1 image quality; impact printer; nonimpact printer; per-sonal computer printerASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection with any item mentionedin this standard. Users of this standar
46、d are expressly advised that determination of the validity of any such patent rights, and the riskof infringement of such 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
47、not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are invited either for revision of this standard or for additional standardsand should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful consideration at a meeting of theresponsible technical committee, whic
48、h you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not received a fair hearing you shouldmake your views known to the 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 1174 01 (2006)3
