Details:
Summary:
This paper presents results of a research project that was designed to be able to eliminate the subjectivity from assessing flexographic print production. The printer often finds it difficult to find the optimum setting for the printing press thus creating levels of waste. An optical device has been invented that is capable of digitally capturing a highly magnified image of the print sample. The associated print quality analysis software produces individual dot measurements of area, shape (expressed as circularity) and the ink distribution. The measure is able to discriminate between the intensity of the ink within the dot and the background. The variations reported are numerically quantified and are enumerated for each dot included within the area of interest. The reported physical dot characteristics can be related directly to press controls, substrate quality and ink performance. The results of a small two level factorial experiment conducted to calibrate the device form the basis of the paper. The results and conclusions from the experiment are reported and highlight how the instrument can be used in normal print production to deliver improved printing performance and consistency. The device is used with a small pattern or image that remains a constant indicator of image quality through the many production stages of the process. The devise, the small patterned image and supporting software that are described in the paper are protected by US patent application number 60/681,700 accepted August 11th 2005.