<title>Predicting customer preference from objective image quality metrics for monochrome document products</title>

Abstract

This paper describes a regression model for predicting customer preference from objective image quality metrics for black and white printers, copiers and multifunction systems. In order to quantify customer preference for monochrome images the quantitative preference system was previously developed. Using this system, a preference survey with five different customer-type documents was used to obtain the preference data. Objective image quality metrics were obtained from a scanner-based measurement system. Using this regression model, typically 80% or more of the variation of the overall preference can be explained by six objective image quality metrics: Relative TRC Error; Mottle; Visual Noise; Visual Structure; Streaks and Bands; and Relative Dynamic Range Reduction. The results also provide the relative significance of these attributes for the different kinds of customer images.