Print Quality Evaluation of Silica-Based Ink Jet Paper Coatings: Sheet vs. Continuous Coaters

Abstract

Various protocols for measuring the quality of color ink jet prints have been developed. An automated image analysis system has been constructed and programmed to evaluate print quality measures including color gamut, black optical density, print mottle, bleed, linewidth, raggedness, and sharpness. After defining print quality evaluations a silica-based coating was coated onto paper using the continuous coating methods of a puddle press, a rigid blade coater, and a metered size press. Using the same coating, a laboratory bench-top coating unit was used to generate single sheets of papers at equal coat weights to the continuous scale. Comparisons were made between laboratory sheets and continuously generated sheets using image analysis derived measures of print quality. The information gained is useful in deciding whether laboratory screening of various coatings formulations will be of use in projecting commercial print quality. In addition, while generating this information, the benefits of a silica gel-based coating were evident.