Virtual printing to enhance Virtual printing to enhance print quality print quality

Christophe Mercier

OutlineOutlineContext / Importance of print

quality

A virtual printing software

Conclusion

ContextContextInk-jet printing applications / expectations

Graphics Desktop printer Semi-industrial art reproduction Industrial printer(wallpaper, newspaper, tiles, textiles,

packaging) Material deposition

Pillars of lead zirconium titanate

Not just speed, reliability, easy to operate, but also high quality

Customisation/short series: no time for settings Luxury supply chain: perceived quality is

importantReplacement/complement of technology like

offset lithography(result matching)

Print quality in IJ printing Print quality in IJ printing Customer

image quality rating

Physical image parameters

Technology variablesCustomer

perceptions attibutes

System modelVisual model

m model

Image quality model

Errors & trials improvements

Difficult subject: Lot of physical interactions + human assessment

Optimisation is a time consuming process

Important features of the product related to purchases process

SUBSTRATE

INK

PRINTERSystem model

Who is concerned by print quality ? Who is concerned by print quality ?

Customers type Specific needs

Ink-jet integrator Components selection

Ink/fluids suppliers Rheological properties: satellitesColour properties

Print heads suppliers Jet directionality, drop speed uniformity, drop volume uniformity

Ink system supplier

Motion system suppliers Motion Accuracy, linearity

Substrate suppliers Ink Absorption diffusion

Software suppliers (dithering, multi-pass,…

What are the available What are the available tools:tools:

What can I do to improve my print quality, or to control a level of print quality

Standards on print quality: ISO 12647 standard

Measurement devices direct Software ImageExpert, Colour/density

measurement Indirect: JetExpert /

Abundant literature on image quality

OutlineOutlineContext / Importance of print

quality

A virtual printing software

Conclusion

The product:The product: The proposition

◦ To improve the print quality Inks spectrum (Drop-substrate interaction, Drop placement accuracy, Drops volume optimization, printer design)

SUBSTRATE

INK

PRINTER(print head, motion system, ink system,RIP)

VIRTUAL PRINTER

Jettability SpreadingDiffusion

Substrate, feeding/registration/time to cure/

Main features(1):Main features(1):Standalone software application

Installation on every computer

RIP: gamut mapping, colour separation, dithering, swaths separations,

Print swaths ready to be printed

Image optimization Contrast enhancement,

Substrate (simulation, visualisation) Fabrics: description

Main features(2):Main features(2): Inks (Reflectance spectrum, jettability

description) Best primaries, interaction with substrate

Model of ink/substrates interactions and colour model

Relevant parameters

Characterisation tools: dots area, lines, dots placement, gamut

Comparison with results from microscope, X-RITE

Export file Further analysis in Matlab, Excel,…

Parameters for the Parameters for the simulationsimulationLong range variations

Simulation starts at

Overall printed area

Dots impositionDots imposition

Dots placement accuracyDots placement accuracy

Substrate: fabricSubstrate: fabric

Substrate + printsSubstrate + prints

Colour gamut Colour gamut modelling modelling

ConclusionConclusion

Assessing print quality is complex

Assessing print quality is even more complex when you control only one aspect

To improve our competitiveness: Product standardization,Reduce Time to market