Eliot Harper

Abstract

A problem arises when different printing systems are used to print images. Different systems have considerably different contrast and resolution capabilities while an individual printing system might have a low resolution capability, the system may have the ability to render low contrast detail. Similarly, if a printing system has a high resolution capability, it does not necessarily mean that such a system has the ability to render low contrast detail well. Such contrast and resolution restrictions may be attributed to the capabilities of the PostScript interpreter, the screening method used by the RIP, the image transfer method of the output device, the substrate used, or a combination of these factors. The RIT Contrast Resolution Test Target has been developed to measure the relationship between contrast and resolution of a printing system. The target measures the contrast-resolution capability of the printing system in both the horizontal and vertical print direction of the printing device. A graph can be plotted to show the Contrast Sensitivity (CS) for the printing system. From this distribution, a contrastresolution- volume (CRV) can be calculated to produce a quantitative contrast-resolution measurement for an individual printing system. The hypothesis of this thesis is that the RIT Contrast Resolution Test Target can provide a method of discriminating the CRV of marking engines and screening methods by using analysis methods intended for use with the target. The target was printed on several printing systems. 12 observers were used to measure the target. The observers were given instruction on proper target reading, and their observations were recorded as CRV measurements. The CRV values for all colors from each system were averaged for each observer. The averaged data was entered into a two-way ANOVA test, where the two dimensions in the test were systems and observers. The results of the ANOVA test showed that there was significant variance in the average CRV values from each system, and the hypothesis of this thesis was accepted. In addition, the ANOVA test indicated that there was significant variance between the observers readings. Although each observer used a different judging criteria, it was concluded that the observers evaluated the different systems relative to one and other in almost the same sequence.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Color printing--Digital techniques--Evaluation; Digital printing--Evaluation; Image processing--Digital techniques--Evaluation

Publication Date

12-1-2000

Document Type

Thesis

Department, Program, or Center

School of Print Media (CIAS)

Advisor

Granger, Edward

Advisor/Committee Member

Sigg, Franz

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works. Physical copy available through RIT's The Wallace Library at: Z258 .H377 2001

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Download

Share

COinS