1、Designation: F 1206 94 (Reapproved 2005)Standard Test Method forEvaluating Color Image Output from Color Printers andCopiers1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1206; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope1.1 This test method covers the evaluation of color outputfrom printer/plotters and copiers. The output may
3、 be from anink jet, thermal transfer, electrostatic or electrophotographicdevice.1.2 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 de
4、termine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D 2244 Practice for Calculation of Color Tolerances andColor Differences from Instrumentally Measured ColorCoordinates3. Summary of Test Method3.1 A printer or copier is set up to standard op
5、eratingparameters and operated under a controlled environment for alength of time sufficient for stable performance. A color testimage is created using a program for the printer or a standardcolor chart for copiers. A colorimeter is used to measure theprinter or copier output by determining color di
6、fference valueswhich correlate to visual color assessment.4. Significance and Use4.1 This test method is used to evaluate the color outputcapability of color printer/plotters or copiers. The color copy,print, or plot is measured such that the results can be correlatedto human color vision.4.2 This t
7、est method can be used to make machine-to-machine comparisons. It can be used to compare color printeror copier processes (ink jet, thermal transfer, etc.).4.3 This test method can be used to compare imagingsupplies such as toner, ink, thermal transfer ribbons, and paper.5. Interference5.1 Any chang
8、es in the color of the paper, surface proper-ties, or brighteners may affect the color measurement.5.2 The measured color may be affected by the location onthe paper due to uneven toning or positional variations in theimaging process.5.3 If the print samples to be tested are not completelyopaque, th
9、e color measurements will be affected by the backingmaterial.5.4 The preferred colorimeter geometry excludes gloss fromthe measurements. Any differences in sample gloss will not bemeasured by the colorimeter.6. Apparatus6.1 Colorimeter, capable of measuring human vision colorparameters. The colorime
10、ter shall be capable of measuring inunits of L*, a* and b* using 45/0 or integrating spheregeometry. Refer to Test Method D 2244 for definitions of colorscales. The 45/0 geometry is the closest approximation ofactual office reading environment. The illuminant shall beilluminant C.6.2 Printer or Copi
11、er, to be evaluated.7. Reagents and Materials7.1 Sufficient quantities of paper and imaging supplies torun the evaluation.7.2 A reference color test target.7.2.1 For printers and plotters the reference color test targetcan be made from color chips or selected printer/plotter output.The colors must i
12、nclude red, green, blue, yellow, cyan,magenta, black, and white. Each color must cover a sufficientarea to permit measurement by the colorimeter. A 25.4 mm (1in.) diameter circular area is sufficient for most colorimeters.7.2.2 For color copiers the reference color test target can bemade from select
13、ed color chips and is used as the original to becopied. The colors must include red, green, blue, yellow, cyan,magenta, black, and white.A25.4 mm (1 in.) diameter circulararea is sufficient for most colorimeters.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of Committee F05 on BusinessImaging Products
14、 and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F05.04 onElectrostatic Imaging Products.Current edition approved June 1, 2005. Published August 2005. Originallyapproved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 2000 as F 1206 94 (2000).2For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.a
15、stm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service 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.8. Cond
16、itioning8.1 The paper, imaging supplies, and printer or copiershould be conditioned in the test environment for 24 h prior toinitiating the test.8.2 The environment in which the following procedure iscarried out should be controlled to reduce adverse effects. Thetemperature should be controlled 6 2.
17、77C (65F) around themean temperature selected for the test. The relative humidity(RH) should be controlled 610 % around the mean RHselected for the test.9. Procedure9.1 The copier or printer should be thoroughly cleaned byan authorized service representative and any prescribed pre-ventive maintenanc
18、e performed prior to running the test.9.2 If the device is a color printer/plotter, set up and run atest program which will produce color images sufficient in sizefor measurement using the colorimeter. Generate three sets ofeach color for measurement. The following colors are required:9.2.1 Red,9.2.
19、2 Green,9.2.3 Blue,9.2.4 Cyan,9.2.5 Magenta,9.2.6 Yellow,9.2.7 Black, and9.2.8 White (blank for printer/plotters).9.3 If the device is a color copier which prints one colorregardless of the color of the original, use a test target capableof producing a solid area, sufficient in size for measuring, u
20、singthe colorimeter. If a selection of colors is available, makecopies with each color using the same original. Use black orthe same color for the original.9.4 If the device is a color copier capable of producingcolors similar to the colors on the original, use the colorreference test chart describe
21、d in 7.2.2 as the original. Makethree sets of each color for measurement.9.5 Calibrate the colorimeter according to the manufactur-ers instructions. If possible, set the measurement parameters at45/0 geometry, 2 observer, illuminant C and L*, a*, b*units. Record all colorimeter settings.9.6 Determin
22、e if the copier original or any output samplesare opaque by placing them in the colorimeter and alternatelybacking them with black and then white materials. If there is nodifference in the value obtained, then the sample is consideredopaque. Samples determined not to be opaque must be backedduring a
23、ll color measurements. A sufficient number of backingsheets, which are the same paper as the sample, should be usedsuch that there is no difference in color measurements when thesample with backing sheets is backed with black or whitematerials.9.7 Measure the colors on the reference color test chart
24、using the colorimeter. Record the L*, a*, b* values.9.8 Measure the colors on the three sets of color outputgenerated in 9.2, 9.3 or 9.4 using the colorimeter. Take fivereadings on three separate locations within the same test areaand average the values. Repeat for the remaining two sets. Usethe ave
25、rage of the three sets in the calculation.9.9 Calculate the DL*, Da* and Db* values by subtractingthe values measured in 9.7 from the values measured in 9.8.Calculate the total color difference, D E*=(DL*)2+(Da*)2+(D b*)21/2. Colorimeter systems with computers will calculatethe DE*, D L*, Da* and Db
26、* values directly. If the colorimetersystem is capable, generate a graphic display of the results.10. Interpretation of Results10.1 The DE*, DL*, Da* and D b* values for each colorparameter can be compared relative to printer or copierprocess, manufacturer, imaging supplies source, environmentalcond
27、itions, etc.10.2 The DE*, DL*, Da* and D b* values generated whenthe reference color test chart is used as the original for amulticolor copier, indicate the ability of the copier to reproduceselected colors.10.3 Expected values for DE*, DL*, Da* and D b* can beassigned to the copier or printer and s
28、upplies.11. Precision and Bias11.1 The test method will provide repeatable ranking orderresults within the same laboratory.12. Keywords12.1 color copier; color printer; color toner; inkjetAPPENDIX(Nonmandatory Information)X1. REPRODUCIBILITY RESULTSX1.1 Reproducibility of results among several labor
29、atorieswas determined by a round robin test using the same color printsamples and different colorimeters. The average standarddeviations for the colorimeter values (L*, a*, b*) of thereference chips were:45/0 geometry: 0.55Integrating sphere: 0.99Diffuse geometry: 1.92X1.2 The average standard devia
30、tions for the colorimeterdifference values (D E*, DL *, Da*, or Db* = printsample reference chip) were as follows:45/0 geometry: 1.48Integrating sphere: 1.56Diffuse geometry: 2.42F 1206 94 (2005)2ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent rights asserted in connection
31、 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 such rights, are entirely their own responsibility.This standard is subject to revision at any time by the responsible t
32、echnical 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 additional standardsand should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments will receive careful conside
33、ration 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 the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.This standard is copyrighted by ASTM International, 100 Barr
34、 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 1206 94 (2005)3
