1、Designation: F 1423 97 (Reapproved 2002)e1Standard Practice forDetermination of the Quality of Monochrome ImagesProduced from Non-Impact Personal Computer Printers1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1423; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforigin
2、al adoption or, in the case of revision, 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.e1NOTEAdjunct references were editorially corrected in April 2006.1. Scope1.
3、1 This practice utilizes a standard test target that isintended for use as a means of comparing the graphic and textoutput quality from non-impact personal computer printers.The output may be from ink jet, thermal transfer, or electro-static imaging devices.1.2 This target can be used by the end-use
4、r as a means ofdetermining the suitability of a non-impact printer for use withcommercially available software and a predetermined applica-tion.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 standa
5、rd 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 909 Terminology Relating to PrintersF 1125 Terminology of Image Quality in Impact PrintingSystemsF 1174 Practice for Using a P
6、ersonal Computer Printer as aTest Instrument2.2 ASTM Adjunct:Image Quality Test Target for Non-Impact PC PrintingSystems33. Terminology3.1 Definitions:3.1.1 hairlinethe thinnest line a particular printer willprint.3.1.2 jitterdeviation in a printed test pattern that is causedby: erratic rotation of
7、the photoreceptor or erratic paper feeding(noticeable in the vertical plane); or erratic scanning oralignment, or both, of the imaging device (noticeable in thehorizontal plane). The imaging device can be either a laserdiode, ink-jet nozzle(s), or a thermal printhead.3.1.3 pointa typographical term
8、describing the height of acharacter from top to bottom. One point equals approximately172 in.3.1.4 stairsteppingthe tendency of a printer to produceangular or circular lines, or both, in a series of dots that, whenexamined closely, resemble stair steps. Ideally a printer shouldproduce angular or cir
9、cular lines, or both, with a smooth,unnoticeable transition from dot to dot.3.2 See Terminologies F 909 and F 1125 for additionaldefinitions related to this practice.4. Significance and Use4.1 This test target can be used for control or evaluation ofthe graphic and text output of imaging products or
10、 as a researchand development tool.4.2 This test target can be produced by most non-impactpersonal computer printers.5. Interferences5.1 This test target was generated using commerciallyavailable software. Consequently, the quality of the printed testtarget may not be indicative of the absolute reso
11、lution or imagequality, or both, that a printer may produce (direct programingof the printer may produce the best results).5.2 Paper supplies can be purchased from several sourcesand can affect the image quality of a given system. The usershould use only the grade and basis weight of paper recom-men
12、ded by the printer manufacturer when evaluating imagequality. All paper supplies should be from the same source andproduction lot. Some inherent variability within the paper mayaffect image quality evaluations as will certain unintentional1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F0
13、5 on BusinessImaging Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F05.04 onElectrostatic Imaging Products.Current edition approved May 10, 1997. Published April 1998.2For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.
14、 For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3Available from ASTM International Headquarters. Order Adjunct No.ADJF1423. Original adjunct produced in 1992.1Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West
15、Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.paper defects. Some variability may be encountered from oneream of paper to the next or sometimes encountered within aream.6. Apparatus Required to Produce Test Target6.1 IBM or IBM Compatible Computer, running MS-DOSor Windows.6.2 PC Compatible Non-impact
16、Personal ComputerPrinter.6.3 Test targets will be available from ASTM3for HPLaserJet (PCL), PostScript, IBM Quietwriter, and HP DeskJetprinters or compatibles. The printer may be equipped withserial or parallel ports; Test Target may be output from one toten times to either LPT1, LPT2, LPT3, COM1, C
17、OM2, orCOM3.6.4 PCL printers require a minimum of 1.5 megabytes ofmemory.6.5 Magnifier or Optical Comparator, the power of which isjudged acceptable by the evaluator.6.6 Paper, recommended for use by the printer manufac-turer, paper in common use in the facility where the printer isused.7. Printing
18、the Test Target7.1 Set up the PC and printer in accordance with PracticeF 1174 and follow the manufacturers instructions.7.2 Load the paper into the feed tray so that the image isproduced on the side designated by the paper or equipmentmanufacturer.7.3 Follow the instructions included with the test
19、targetdiskette. The program may take several minutes to load into theprinters memory.7.4 Run the desired number of test targets.8. Evaluation of Test Target8.1 Use of a magnifier or optical comparator for evaluationof the printed target is at the discretion of the evaluator.Examine the entire target
20、 for extraneous markings or spots.See Fig. 1.8.2 Items 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D are positioned to theoutermost edges of the original test target and serve a threefoldpurpose:8.2.1 Since these items are positioned on the edge of thepage, the white space around the perimeter of the printed targetrepresents
21、the “void” areathat is the area on the page wherethe printer will not image. The remaining printed area repre-sents the maximum print area allowable by the printer. Exam-ine and record the void area or the maximum print area fromthe printed target.8.2.2 Items 1A and 1B can also be used as scales to
22、aid inmaking a rough estimate of the void or maximum print area.Items 1A and 1B are graduated in increments of18 in.8.2.3 Items 1C and 1D can also be used as “jitter” scales.Any deviation of the pattern (inconsistent spacing of the lines)is easily distinguished by the human eye. Examine the patterns
23、for any irregularities.8.3 Items 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D are solid black images thatcan be used to determine the density of the image on differentareas of the target. These images may be inspected or mea-sured, or both, using a densitometer. Examine the images foredge fill and voids. Compare the density
24、of each of the boxesto the others on the page.8.4 Items 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D are intended to demonstratehow accurately the printer can produce an unfilled circle.Examine the circle for appearance, line width, and “stairstep-ping” effect.8.5 Items 4A and 4B consist of seven concatenated boxeswith vario
25、us levels of halftones (10 %, 20 %, 30 %, 40 %,60 %, 80 %, and 100 %). These items are intended to demon-strate how accurately the printer can produce each level.Inferior imaging systems will show disproportionate changesbetween levels. For example, some printers may saturate an80 % halftone while o
26、thers may show little discernible differ-ence between a 10 % and a 20 % halftone. Examine the degreeof shading in each box. Variations in shading within individualhalftones may be indicative of excessive “jitter.”8.6 Items 5A and 5B are intended to demonstrate howaccurately the printer can produce c
27、losely spaced diagonallines. Some printers may produce 5B so that it resembles ahalftone while others may produce easily distinguishablediagonal lines. Examine each item for appearance, line width,and stairstepping effect. Variations in shading within individualhalftones may be indicative of excessi
28、ve “jitter.”8.7 Items 6A and 6B are intended to demonstrate howaccurately the printer can produce a long diagonal line fromcorner to corner on the test target. Examine the lines forappearance, straightness, and stairstepping effect. Examine thewidth of the lines and the appearance of their intersect
29、ion at thecenter of Item 7. Note that some printers may alleviate thestairstepping effect by producing a thicker line, the quality ofwhich is determined by the preference of the evaluator (alsorefer to 8.11). The intended width of the lines are “hairline” (adesktop publishing term), which is the thi
30、nnest line a particularprinter will print. A comparison of the measured length of eachdiagonal line indicates the “squareness” of the image.8.8 Item 7 is intended to demonstrate how accurately theprinter can reproduce a series of concentric boxes. Examine theboxes for consistent spacing from one box
31、 to the next andensure that the lines are parallel in both planes. Examine theline width and the corners of each box for appearance. Also,examine the appearance, placement, and accuracy of thecentermost boxit should be nearly quartered by Items 6Aand6B.8.9 Items 8A and 8B are a series of negative an
32、d positivelines. The thinnest line is hairline width and the remaining linesare in point sizes (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 point). These itemsare intended primarily to compare line widths produced fromdifferent printers. Since these items are expressed in a unit ofmeasurement, there should be no dif
33、ference in line width fromone printer to the next. Examine the lines for appearance andline width. Compare the differences in width between negativeand positive lines of the same width. Note that because of thenuances in the addressable resolution of some printers, hori-zontal or vertical lines, or
34、both, of incorrect width may beproduced.F 1423 97 (2002)e128.10 Item 9 is a series of characters in Courier typeface witha point size of 12. These characters represent decimal values033 to 175 from the IBM character set. Examine the charactersfor appearance, spacing, and consistency of line width. N
35、otethat the Courier typeface may vary from printer to printer.8.11 Items 10 and 11 are composed of hairline width lines ofvarying shallow angles. Examine each line for stairsteppingeffect, straightness, and consistency of line width. Note thatsome printers may alleviate stairstepping effect by produ
36、cing athicker line, the quality of which is determined by the prefer-ence of the evaluator. The degree of thickening of the angledlines can be determined by comparing their thickness to thethickness of the horizontal and vertical lines.FIG. 1 Image Quality Test TargetF 1423 97 (2002)e139. Report9.1
37、Interpretation of the results should be made by oneevaluator.9.2 Suitability of the maximum print area is determined bythe application required by the end user.9.3 Any evidence of jitter may be indicative of the quality ofconstruction or the amount of use on the printer.9.4 The density of the image
38、may be adjusted by means ofthe print contrast control of the printer. The absolute density isindicative of the capabilities of the imaging process or theprinter, or both.9.5 The degree of stairstepping may be indicative of theresolution of the printer. Note that some printers may alleviatestairstepp
39、ing by producing a thicker line, the quality of whichis determined by the preference of the evaluator.9.6 Proportionate and discernible changes in the levels ofhalftones are indicative of the resolution, effectiveness of theimaging process, or the quality of the printer. Note that changesin the cont
40、rast control on some printers may affect the qualityof reproduction of halftones.9.7 Differences in the density of one of the boxes (in thefour corners of the target) to the next may be indicative of poorprinter/print cartridge quality or faulty manufacturing toler-ances. For example, differing dens
41、ity of boxes in the samehorizontal plane may be indicative of poor photoreceptorquality for electrostatic printers or inconsistent platen orprinthead clearances for thermal transfer or ink-jet printers.Differing density of boxes in the same vertical plane may beindicative of poor toner refresh rate
42、or photoreceptor qualityfor electrostatic printers or inconsistent platen or printheadclearances for thermal transfer or ink-jet printers.9.8 The amount of spots or extraneous marks on the printedtarget may be indicative of the quality of the printer, supplies,or the amount of usage already on the p
43、rinter.10. Keywords10.1 computer printers; image quality; test targetASTM 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 an
44、y 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 not revised, either reapproved or withdrawn. Your comments are i
45、nvited 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, which you may attend. If you feel that your comments have not receiv
46、ed 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 1423 97 (2002)e14
