1、Designation: F1206 94 (Reapproved 2011)1Standard Test Method forEvaluating Color Image Output from Color Printers andCopiers1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F1206; 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.1NOTERevised the units presentation and added a units statement editorially in October 2011.1. Scope1.1 This test met
3、hod covers the evaluation of color outputfrom printer/plotters and copiers. The output may be from anink jet, thermal transfer, electrostatic or electrophotographicdevice.1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regardedas standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematicalconversi
4、ons to SI units that are provided for information onlyand are not considered standard.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 a
5、nd determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D2244 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 standar
6、d operatingparameters 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 colo
7、r difference 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 Th
8、is test 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 c
9、hanges 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
10、, the 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 colo
11、rimeter shall be capable of measuring inunits of L*, a* and b* using 45/0 or integrating spheregeometry. Refer to Test Method D2244 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 C
12、opier, 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.1This test method is under the jurisdiction of Committee F05 on BusinessImaging Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F05
13、.04 onElectrostatic Imaging Products.Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2011. Published March 2012. Originallyapproved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 2005 as F1206 94 (2005).DOI: 10.1520/F1206-94R11e1.2For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Cust
14、omer 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.7.2.1 For printers and plotters the
15、 reference color test targetcan be made from color chips or selected printer/plotter output.The colors must include red, green, blue, yellow, cyan,magenta, black, and white. Each color must cover a sufficientarea to permit measurement by the colorimeter. A 1 in. (25.4mm) diameter circular area is su
16、fficient for most colorimeters.7.2.2 For color copiers the reference color test target can bemade from selected color chips and is used as the original to becopied. The colors must include red, green, blue, yellow, cyan,magenta, black, and white.A1 in. (25.4 mm) diameter circulararea is sufficient f
17、or most colorimeters.8. Conditioning8.1 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. Thetemperatu
18、re should be controlled 65F (6 2.77C) 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 presc
19、ribed pre-ventive maintenance 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
20、 are required:9.2.1 Red,9.2.2 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, suffici
21、ent in size for measuring, usingthe 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 colorr
22、eference test chart described 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 color
23、imeter settings.9.6 Determine 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 o
24、paque must be backedduring all 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 th
25、e reference color test chartusing 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 re
26、maining two sets. Usethe average 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 calcul
27、atethe DE*, D L*, Da* and Db* 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 suppli
28、es source, environmentalconditions, 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
29、 the copier or printer and supplies.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; inkjetF1206 94 (2011)12APPENDIX(Nonmandatory Information)X1. REPRODUCIBILITY RESULTSX1.1 R
30、eproducibility of results among several laboratorieswas 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
31、geometry: 1.92X1.2 The average standard deviations 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: 2.42ASTM International takes no position respecting the validity of any patent r
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33、ny 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 additional standardsand should be addressed to ASTM International Headquarters. Your comments
34、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 the ASTM Committee on Standards, at the address shown below.This standard is copyrighted by
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