Statistical evaluation of a Color Managed Digital Printing Workflow (CMDPW) consistency [4th C of CMW]

Abstract

The purpose of this applied research was to determine the Color Managed Digital Printing Workflow (CMDPW) consistency (4^th C of the color management) over a period of time [100 days, (N = 100)]. The quality of digital color printing is determined by these influential factors: screening method applied, type of printing process, calibration method, device profile, ink (dry-toner or liquid-toner), printer resolution and the substrate (paper). For this research, only the color printing attributes such as the overall average color deviation [ACD, ΔE ₍₂₀₀₀₎] and the solid ink density (SID) were analyzed to examine the CMDPW process consistency in a day-today digital printing operation. These are the color attributes which are monitored and managed for quality accuracy during the printing. Printed colors of the random sample size (n = 80) were measured against the GRACoL2013 standards to derive the colorimetric/densitometric values. Reference colorimetric values used in the analysis were the threshold deviations (acceptable color deviations) as outlined in the ISO12647-7 standards (GRACoL2013). A control charts analysis was applied for further determining the process (CMDPW) SID and ACD variation. The data collected were run through multiple software applications (MS-Excel/SPSS/Minitab) to apply various statistical methods. Analyzed data from the experiment revealed that the printed colorimetric values were in match (aligned) with the GRACoL 2013 (reference/target). Since the SID values of CMYK colors were in control throughout the process, this enabled the CMDPW to produce consistent acceptable color deviation (Average Printed ΔE ₍₂₀₀₀₎ = 2.978; SD = 0.437; Acceptable Threshold color deviation is ΔE ₍₂₀₀₀₎ ≤ 3.00).

Article history: Received (April 9, 2021); Revised (August 7, 2021); Accepted (September 22, 2021); Published online (December 1, 2021)