Print Specification
Objective evaluation of digital print quality requires standardized methods to measure image defects and legibility. The iso 13660 standard defines a set of metrics for measuring the quality of printed characters and symbols from electronic imaging devices. This standard establishes common terms and measurements to evaluate print quality.
Attribute Measure
Specific print defects such as line raggedness, blurriness, contrast, and mottle are quantified under these guidelines. By using digital image analysis, the standard converts subjective visual impressions into repeatable, numerical data. This quantification allows paper mills and printers to communicate about substrate performance using a shared technical language, minimizing disputes over print quality.
Consistent application of these rules improves product reliability across different print runs.
Quality Application
Implementation of this optical standard involves scanning a printed target with a high-resolution camera or flatbed scanner and analyzing the image with compliant software. This analysis measures properties such as line width and edge sharpness, which are sensitive to the absorption characteristics of the paper. A paper with excessive feathering will show high raggedness values, while a paper with uneven surface sizing will exhibit higher mottle.
Packaging converters use these standardized measurements to verify that incoming paperboard meets the demands of high-resolution digital barcodes and graphics.
