ASTM_F_360_-_82_2011.pdf

Designation:F36082(Reapproved 2011)Standard Practice forImage Evaluation of Electrostatic Business Copies1This standard is issued under the fixed designation F360;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of originaladoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.INTRODUCTIONThe evaluation of the images obtained from various types or models of office copy systems canbecome a complicated process,requiring carefully prepared test masters and expensive test equipment.The copying needs of individuals and firms also vary considerably as does their ability to evaluateresults reported in technical terms.It is,however,within the capability of most persons interested inthe results obtained from copying systems to subjectively and visually compare prints reproducedfrom originals that are pertinent to their copying requirements.1.Scope1.1 This practice guides the user toward preparing anoriginal test subject,meaningful to his specific copying needsand to suggest ways in which the test subject may be used toevaluate images from office copy systems.1.2 Additional evaluation of image characteristics are cov-ered in Practice F807 and Test Method F875.1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2F807 Practice for Determining Resolution Capability ofOffice CopiersF875 Test Method for Evaluation of Large Area Density andBackground on Office Copiers3.Summary of Practice3.1 This practice involves the preparation of one or moretest originals and their reproduction.Subjective comparisons ofthe test original(s)to the copies allow the user to evaluate theusefulness of the copy system for his needs.4.Significance and Use4.1 Subjective evaluations of copies made from test origi-nals can be used to determine the usefulness of a given copysystem in a specific user application.Since many variablesoperate to affect the copy quality at any given time,smallchanges in quality may not have any practical significance formany users.5.Interferences5.1 Many copy systems are subject to variation due tofluctuations of line voltage.It is conceivable that such fluctua-tions may cause a normally useful system to give poor results.The manufacturer should be consulted regarding the need forvoltage-stabilizing devices which can usually be easily in-stalled.5.2 Results from copy systems can vary depending upon thelength of time the system has been operating.The first printafter a system has been shut down for a weekend,for instance,can be of a different quality than subsequent prints made aftersome time of operation.5.3 Excessively high or low relative humidity can also causevariations in performance,not encountered under normalconditions.5.4 Variations in copy system performance over relativelylong periods can occur.It is recommended that the testprocedure be replicated after a sufficient period to determinelong-term stability.5.5 Suppliers for copy systems are often purchased fromseveral sources and can affect the results obtained from a givencopy system.5.6 Due to normal cycling within some copiers,minorvariations in copy quality attributes such as density may beobserved from one copy to the next within a given copy run.1This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F05 on BusinessImaging Products and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F05.04 onElectrostatic Imaging Products.Current edition approved Oct.1,2011.Published March 2012.Originallyapproved in 1972.Last previous edition approved in 2006 as F360 82(2006).DOI:10.1520/F0360-82R11.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.Copyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 6.Test Original6.1 More than one test subject may be required due tovarying copying needs.The test subject or subjects shouldreflect the users specific copying needs and might be singlesheets of paper,or bulky objects,such as books or magazines,should copying such items be considered important.Assumingmost copying is of single sheets of material,guides forpreparation of such a test original are given:6.1.1 Pick an original of the dimension,basis weight,caliper,stiffness,brightness,gloss,and color pertinent.Onecan use letterheads,invoices,accounting sheets,purchaseorders,or whatever else might be meaningful.6.1.2 On the sheet chosen,produce images with,for in-stance,carbon paper,typewriter ribbons,pen