1、Designation: F1174 01 (Reapproved 2006) F1174 12Standard Practice forUsing a Personal Computer Printer as a Test Instrument1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1174; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the case of revision,
2、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 covers a standardized procedure utilizing a printer of the type normally associated with a p
3、ersonal computeras an imaging device when the performance properties of paper and imaging system components are measured. Both impact andnonimpact systems may be tested.1.2 Impact printer technologies include full character and dot matrix.1.3 Nonimpact printer technologies include laser printers, di
4、rect thermal printers, thermal transfer printers, and ink jet.1.4 Printers not included are those associated with large computer systems commonly known as high-speed printers. SeePractice F1175 for testing involving those systems.1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concer
5、ns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibilityof the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatorylimitations prior to use.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D685 Practice for Conditioning Paper and Pap
6、er Products for Testing (Withdrawn 2010)3D5039 Test Methods for Identification of Wire Side of Paper (Withdrawn 2009)3F221 Terminology Relating to Carbon Paper and Inked Ribbon Products and Images Made TherefromF909 Terminology Relating to PrintersF1125 Terminology of Image Quality in Impact Printin
7、g SystemsF1175 Practice for Using the Computer Impact Print-Out Unit as a Test Instrument for Manifold Comparison2.2 ANSI Standards:PH 2.17 Density Measurements-Geometric Conditions for Reflection DensityPH 2.18 Density Measurements-Spectral Conditions3. Terminology3.1 DefinitionsRefer to Terminolog
8、y F909.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 direct thermal printera thermal printer in which the heated dots in the printhead form the image on a coated papercontaining the imaging materials, producing a color formation corresponding to the dot pattern on the printhead.3.2.2 prin
9、ter speedthe rate at which a printer operates, 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 in a thermal printhead are heated, causing image forming reactionson chemically
10、treated ribbon or paper.3.2.4 thermal transfer printera thermal printer in which the heated dots in the printhead softens the ink on a ribbon or paper,causing it to transfer to paper much like an impact printer. An alternate process involves the use of a resistive ribbon and a printheadwith dots tha
11、t are electrically activated, causing current to flow through a resistive ribbon with an image-forming coating. The heatgenerated with the current flow causes the coating to soften and transfer to the paper.1 This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F05 on Business Imaging Products
12、and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F05.03 on Research.Current edition approved June 1, 2006Oct. 1, 2012. Published June 2006November 2012. Originally approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 20012006 asF1174 01.F1174 01(2006). DOI: 10.1520/F1174-01R06.10.1520/F1174-12.2 For
13、referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standardsvolume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page on the ASTM website.This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to pr
14、ovide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Becauseit may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current versionof th
15、e standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States14. Summary of Practice4.1 This practice consists of using a printer, of the type normally associated with person
16、al computers, under specified conditions,to prepare images that are used to evaluate paper or other imaging system components.4.2 Care should be exercised in making comparisons, in that only one variable at a time should be evaluated. An example wouldbe comparing several papers in one laser printer.
17、4.3 This practice includes nonimpact printers having imaging technologies including laser, direct thermal, thermal transfer, orink jet LED, LCS, and magnetography. It also includes impact printers involving technologies such as full character or dot matrixtypes.4.4 This practice may also be used to
18、compare the image quality of printers that are capable of being operated at more than onespeed.4.5 This practice does not include computer printers using imaging technology provided by raised images on belts, chains, ordrums. Practice F1175 addresses those imaging systems.5. Significance and Use5.1
19、This practice is intended to provide a means of evaluation of comparative image quality relative to paper, imaging systemcomponents, printer speeds, and printer models.6. Interferences6.1 Many printers are subject to imaging system variations due to fluctuation of line voltage. Voltage-stabilizing d
20、evices can beused. If a stabilizing device is not used, tests shall be run at periods where the line load is low or stabilized.6.2 The densitometer or reflectometer readings will also vary with voltage fluctuations. Use the same procedures as in 6.1.6.3 In visual comparison, care should be taken not
21、 to confuse width of line or area with intensity.6.4 Fluctuations of temperature and humidity will affect the paper used for image reception. Tests run on different days couldshow variation in results. All tests shall be dated with temperature and relative humidity recorded (see 10.1).6.5 Certain ch
22、aracteristics are common to all imaging systems. Other characteristics are peculiar to the individual imagingsystems. The technicians should apply their knowledge of the imaging system when evaluating images.6.6 To ensure the best results when evaluating the image quality of ink jet and thermal prin
23、ters, use the paper recommendedby the manufacturer or a suitable substitute.7. Apparatus7.1 PrinterIn normal use for the application.7.2 Densitometer An instrument meeting the requirements of ANSI PH 2.17 and PH 2.18 shall have an aperture diameter thatshall be greater than two times the height of a
24、 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 facility wherethe printer is used. Tests should be run on the wire side of the paper (see Test Methodsindicated by the D5039). packaging, or bythe m
25、anufacture, if applicable.8.2 Imaging System ComponentsWhen an imaging system component is to be evaluated, a sufficient amount of the imagingmaterial should be available in the printer so that replenishment or change in component would not be necessary while the testis being conducted. Examples wou
26、ld be the ink reservoir of an ink jet printer, and toner supply in a laser printer, or ribbon in athermal transfer printer.9. Calibration and Standardization9.1 Adjust the printer to be used to prepare the images in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations.9.2 For image evaluation using vis
27、ual means (see 12.1), either use a test program integral to the printer which produces allcharacters in upper and lower case, or program the computer associated with the printer so that the full set of characters isproduced.9.3 For the reflection density test (see 12.2), develop a program utilizing
28、graphic pattern spacing so as to give a continuousoverall image that does not involve any overlapping printing.NOTE 1ASCII Character #219 provides a suitable block pattern.F1174 12210. Conditioning10.1 Testing shall be conducted in an environment with stable conditions of temperature and relative hu
29、midity. The paper,printer, and supplies should be conditioned for 24 h in the area in which the test will be conducted. If available, Method possible,D685 standard conditions of 50.0 6 2.0 % relative humidity and 23.0 6 1.0C (73.4 6 1.8F) should be used.used during the test,and which would be noted
30、in 13.4.11. Procedure for Preparing Image11.1 Paper Evaluation:11.1.1 Check that the imaging system is performing satisfactorily and that it contains sufficient imaging material to completethe test without replenishment or change.11.1.2 Insert the paper to be tested, in accordance with the printer m
31、anual, but avoid printing on watermarks or imperfectionsin the paper.11.1.3 Operate the printer at a constant speed and produce a minimum of ten characters horizontally across the sheet and tenlines of characters down; three built-in test patterns; or a test pattern appropriate to the component bein
32、g tested. If the printer speedis adjustable, repeat the procedure at those speeds as appropriate. Note the printer speed in the margin adjacent to the copy.11.1.4 Remove the test paper. Be careful to avoid any smudging of the pattern of printed images.11.1.5 Produce identical image and test patterns
33、 on control paper and other papers to be evaluated in accordance with 11.1.2through 11.1.4 with the same imaging system components and printer setup. Note side of paper imaged.11.2 Imaging Material Evaluation:11.2.1 Follow essentially the same procedure as described in 11.1.1 through 11.1.5, except
34、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 printer, in toner for alaser printer, or a ribbon for a thermal transfer or impact printer. The same lot of paper should be used throughout the test, andprinter speed
35、should be adjusted if appropriate.11.3 Printer Evaluation:11.3.1 Use of original equipment and manufacturer-recommended imaging materials and paper is suggested for printercomparison evaluation.11.3.2 Use essentially the same procedure described in 11.1.1 through 11.1.5 except make a comparison on d
36、ifferent printers.11.3.3 If the printers evaluated will not accept the same imaging system components, use one designed for the printer or fromthe same component manufacturer and so indicate. If the imaging system components are changed, the method evaluates theprinter-component combination and not
37、the printer alone.11.3.4 If the printers being evaluated do not have the same type size, style, pitch, etc., to produce the pattern described in 11.1.3,the evaluation of the image by reflection density as described in 12.2 cannot be conducted. Further, the visual evaluation may becompromised because
38、 of the differences in the image and should be so noted in the report.12. Evaluation of Comparative Image Quality12.1 Visual Means:12.1.1 Visually compare the test and control product images. Image evaluation may be improved by using magnification, suchas 10 hand lens, a binocular microscope, or by
39、production and examination of photomicrographs. When using any magnified orphotographic techniques, care should be taken to make certain that magnification and illumination are the same for all images.Report magnification used. A small aperture densitometer may be used to aid in image evaluation.12.
40、1.2 The images should be compared for relative value of the following examples:12.1.2.1 Intensity,12.1.2.2 Sharpness,12.1.2.3 Cleanliness,12.1.2.4 Legibility,12.1.2.5 Character fill-in, and12.1.2.6 Other characteristics as appropriate to different technologies.NOTE 2The user of the method should be
41、familiar with the features and characteristics of the imaging technology of the images being evaluated in12.1.2.6. The other five characteristics are common to all printing.12.2 Reflectance Measurement:12.2.1 ApparatusReflectometer or reflection densitometer shall meet the requirements for daylight
42、luminous reflectance inaccordance with ANSI PH 2.17 and PH 2.18. The light source and receptor of the reflectometer shall be as described in ANSI PH2.17 and PH 2.18, namely Illuminant C, and observed by illuminosity (y) function.12.2.2 Calibration The densitometer or reflectometer should be calibrat
43、ed using primary and secondary standards describedin ANSI PH 2.17 and PH 2.18.12.2.3 Measurement:12.2.3.1 Place the test specimen on a black backing as described in ANSI IT 2.171995 (ISO 5-4) Annex A1.F1174 12312.2.3.2 Place the printed test specimen produced in Section 11 under the viewing head of
44、the instrument, and read the valueof percent reflectance or optical density obtained on the specimen. A reading should be taken from five or more different areas ofthe imaged material. The average and range of the readings are recorded.12.3 Evaluation of Character-Forming MechanismExamine the indivi
45、dual characters produced in 11.4 for any evidence ofbroken images.13. Report13.1 Visual Means:13.1.1 Establish a ranking order for the characteristics evaluated in 12.1 by comparing paired samples on the basis of equal to,above, or below.13.1.2 The ranking order may be different for the various char
46、acteristics evaluated.13.1.3 Some personal judgment will be required in equating merits of the various characteristics. For example, a low-densityimage of high sharpness may be preferred to a high-density image with ragged edges.13.2 Reflectance Density:13.2.1 Establish a ranking order based on refl
47、ectance density.13.2.2 Use the ranking order to supplement the visual ranking order.13.3 An overall ranking order based on the combined ranking of 13.1 and 13.2.13.4 Conditions of test (10.1).14. Keywords14.1 image quality; impact printer; nonimpact printer; personal computer printerASTM Internation
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