[CaptLego]

Several recent threads have prompted me to propose a chiptalk project.
Let's design a set of images that can be used as test chips, and have those same images be printed by every chip manufacturer: Ceramics, Clay inlays, and label printers. Currently, we have very few examples of having the same artwork produced by different vendors (and we get justifiably riled up by copyright issues when it does happen). We also tend to design our chips so they work well within the limitations of the manufacturer.

How about designing some chips that we could get direct comparisons between the manufacturers? Design some chips that will challenge the manufacturers. Chips that will show the slightest imperfections in any process?

I know that meeting the minimum quantities may be a challenge for some manufacturers, but there might be enough interest in samples sets of these, and we could surely have them made by several of the vendors.

I remember when I was doing R&D on printing technologies that there were certain images that would highlight the slightest imperfection in the printer (these made great test images), while other images were extremely forgiving -- they always looked great (we used these for demos).

It would be nice if we could come up with a chiptalk set of test images, and have those produced by every chip manufacturer for comparison.

Some ideas:
1. A photograph of a human face. People are quite sensitive to imperfections in fleshtones, false contouring, etc.
2. Line art test patterns. Like those test patterns used for film and TV that show resolution limits.
3. Color balance test patterns.
4. Test alignment of edges and faces
5. Color bleed tests. What's the hardest to do here? Red outlines on black? Narrow white lines on a black background?
6. That standard color chart used to test color film ... the one with squares of each color.
7. ??

So how about it? What's hard to print on a chip? What looks like crap if the process isn't up to snuf? What images would clearly show the differences in a Chipco, BR Pro, NJ? ASM, TRK? Label printers?

[CaptLego]

Here are some examples of the kind of stuff I'm looking for:




http://www.troutcom.com/gdtpug/profi...st-images.html
http://www.normankoren.com/printer_calibration.html
http://www.northlight-images.co.uk/a...hite_test.html

[Dudlee74]

I think this is a fantastic idea Cappie! A true compairison of images on the different chips would most benificial.

[palmimports]

Lets narrow this down to perhaps 5-7 images at 300dpi and 1.5in in diameter which should be sufficient.
I think this will cover MOST representation of what's needed.
SInce there is an ideal dpi/size etc for making the chips print best if everyone stays in these parameters it will keep quality consistent.
Is this something you can handle? If so, once I have the selections I'll have samples made and flown in. There are some excellent folks on here that write chip articles, produce excellent scans-- once the samples come back we can ask them to handle this--
Joe

[CaptLego]

Originally Posted by palmimports

Lets narrow this down to perhaps 5-7 images at 300dpi and 1.5in in diameter which should be sufficient.
I think this will cover MOST representation of what's needed.
SInce there is an ideal dpi/size etc for making the chips print best if everyone stays in these parameters it will keep quality consistent.
Is this something you can handle? If so, once I have the selections I'll have samples made and flown in. There are some excellent folks on here that write chip articles, produce excellent scans-- once the samples come back we can ask them to handle this--
Joe

Thanks for the samples offer!

I was thinking that the source images should be of the highest possible quality, so any limitations are strictly due to the manufacturer. That probably means we need vector art for the black&white resolution tests, and maybe 1200dpi TIFF? for the continuous tone images?

[palmimports]

Originally Posted by CaptLego

Thanks for the samples offer!

I was thinking that the source images should be of the highest possible quality, so any limitations are strictly due to the manufacturer. That probably means we need vector art for the black&white resolution tests, and maybe 1200dpi TIFF? for the continuous tone images?

I'm thinking back to something Steve (BR) said to me regarding image resolution-- I remember 300dpi being-- and I could be wrong- but 300dpi being preferred. I'm not sure on this-- I think chipco aslo requires 300dpi- but not sure if they PREFER higher resolutions--
I agree with the TIFF also- but remember-- some people may only want their own artwork they did printed- and this MAY be in jpg format so I think we need to perhaps convert what we send for samples as jpgs also- just to see if degradation occurs.
I would THINK that the higher res would be preferred-- we can do this- send in 300dpi, 1200dpi and run some tests. THis can be done here as well as in CHina-- Ive reproduced some great chips with nothing more then a 72dpi jpg -- and to be honest- artwork is a science onto iteslf so I am really unsure.
If an image is at 1200 dpi and printed on a printer at 720 x 720- would it be the same as sending an image at 720 x 720-- is there a point of diminishing returns? I just dont know.
On larger orders- prints are done at the fastest speed that looks the best- not necessarily the slowest speed/highest print resolution.
We run a ton of graphics here each day for slot machines-- if I had to print them at the highest possible resolution the printer prints at- I'd be here for days as this slows the pritners down immensely.
Need to get 1.5in images at 300dpi and 1200 dpi and just print them and see what happens. Let me know if you can accomodate the image sizes/resolutions and we can go from there.
Joe

[Wylecoyo]

Very nice idea Capt, I think it will be well received by most manufacturers and will be a great means of direct comparison.

YOU DA MAN!!!!!!!!!!

[vrecksler]

I agree that this is a fantastic idea, Capt! If we have the full support of CT behind such a venture, I think there is a strong possibility that several vendors will supply us with samples. It would really help our membership decide what chip to use to get the best results for their designs too.

[bmwguy525]

Yes I think we would all be behind this 100%. With the new influx of ceramic chip producers and distributors now, it would only be right if we had them ALL print the same thing and THEN do a comparison and review. I really hope this happens.

[Quads]

On that note, the same piece of art, picture, whatever should follow each mfg.

So, at the end of the trial, you have a chip that is: (all from the same artwork)

MFG 1
(all of the same image / artwork)
Chip one JPG @ 300 dpi
Chip two JPG @ 600 dpi
Chip three TIFF at 300 dpi - non vectored art
Chip three TIFF at 300 dpi - vectored art
Chip four TIFF at 600 dpi - non vectored
Chip three TIFF at 600 dpi - vectored
While this will be a little tricky to follow, I'd suggest that the edge spot of each chip be marked / printed with the details of each chip as noted above.

MFG 2

MFG 3

and so on.


I believe this will give you the best of the best to do a 100% fair comparison on the MGF ability to reproduce the same image under the same conditions of artwork / images for a final result.