Digital Variation Test
ChromaChecker™ DVA BETA
How it works?
A detailed analysis has to be done in order to understand what "Normal Variation" is in your process. ChromaChecker Digital Variation Analyzer makes this possible. Specially designed test form and software enable it. Comparing reproduction of control patches in different locations on test page and different pages we can describe multiple variation conditions with color metrics.
Test Forms
There are several versions of Digital Variation Test Form dedicated for different measuring instruments and page sizes.
Tabloid size forms:
X-Rite™ iSis | X-Rite™ DTP-70 | X-Rite™ i1iO |
X-Rite™ ColorPort Target |
X-Rite™ ColorPort Target |
X-Rite™ ColorPort Target |
A3 size forms:
X-Rite™ iSis | X-Rite™ DTP-70 | X-Rite™ i1iO |
on special request only | on special request only | |
X-Rite™ ColorPort Target |
X-Rite™ ColorPort Target |
X-Rite™ ColorPort Target |
Testing Scenarios
- Creating baseline for printing device
- Long-term variation testing procedure
- Short-term variation testing procedure
- G7/TVI calibration procedures (export data to Alwan Print Verifier or Alwan Print Standardizer)
Analysis
1. Intra-page analysis (Variation within a page) – This analysis is critical to your overall goal. If the variation on the page is beyond your tolerance, then this has to be fixed, because no calibration or Tone Reproduction Curve (TRC) can overcome intra-page inconsistencies.
2. Inter page variation analysis (Variation between pages)- This analysis should be conducted by running multiple consecutive pages through your process. If this variation is beyond your tolerance, then no profile or TRC can fix it, it is a mechanical fix.
3. Intra calibration pages analysis (Variation between Calibrations- you chose time difference)- This analysis will help you understand how often calibration should be conducted in order to keep your device consistent and repeatable. Remember, atmospheric conditions can have a huge influence on how often calibration should take place, so tracking the temperature and humidity is important to be able to trace factors responsible for variation.
4. Inter-calibration page analysis (Variation after Calibration – how well does the calibration do at getting device back to starting condition) - This analysis will help you understand if your Calibration procedures are really making your device repeatable. Sometimes procedures are not done correctly so what is thought to be correct, does not produce a consistent result negating the purpose of Calibration. Also, some calibration tools do not do a good job of bringing the device back to its baseline condition, which results in an uncontrolled variation in output.
What is going to be analyzed?
- Primaries solid patches (CMYK) in both vertical and horizontal directions (optical density: spectral and colorimetric, ∆E to baseline)
- Secondary solid patches in vertical direction
- 5 shades of grey (from NPDC curve) - in vertical direction
- CMYK and RGB reproduction curves
Beta Testers
To join beta tests programme you need an acces to digital press and one of the following instruments:
To join the beta testing program need access to digital press, and one of the following instruments:
X-Rite™ iSis, X-Rite™ DTP-70, X-Rite™ i1iO.
File naming convention:
AAAA_MMDDYY_BBBB_CC_DD_EEEE.txt
where:
AAAA - betatester ID
MMDDYY - current date
BBBB – press ID
CC – type of scenario
DD – series ID
EEEE – serial number
To join start from registering your ID ( four letters/numbers of your choice) and your presses IDs