printtests

Printtests are structured evaluations of printed output used to verify fidelity to source material, color management, legibility, and production quality throughout the printing process. They are conducted during prepress, proofing, and production to identify issues before full-scale printing. Common objectives include color accuracy and consistency across devices, optical density and dot gain, resolution and sharpness of lines, font rendering and character spacing, and the accuracy of page layout, bleed, and trim.

Typical methods involve printing standardized test patterns and color targets, such as calibration charts, grayscale ramps, and line/dot patterns. Measurements are taken with instruments like spectrophotometers to assess color values and with densitometers to measure ink density. Printer profiles (ICC profiles) and rendering intents are adjusted based on the results. Both hard proofs (physical sheets) and soft proofs (calibrated display proofs) can be used, with soft proofs relying on display calibration.

In digital printing and desktop publishing, printtests also examine the RIP and driver behavior, font substitution, kerning, and ligature handling, ensuring that the final output matches the intended design. In packaging and label production, tests may cover substrate compatibility, ink adhesion, and varnish effects.

Limitations include substrate variability, environmental factors, and inherent differences between proofing and final runs. Regular printtests form part of quality assurance workflows, enabling correction of color, layout, or typography issues before full-scale production.