Systems and methods are provided for measuring a web. One embodiment is a measurement system that includes rollers which receive a web of print media marked with a printed job, a controller which determines that a segment of the web is stationary at the measurement system, an image measurement device that inspects the printed job, and a repositioning mechanism that repositions the segment within the measurement system relative to the image measurement device while portions of the web external to the measurement system remain stationary.

System and methods used to inspect a moving web (112) include a plurality of image capturing devices (113) that image a portion of the web at an imaging area. The image data captured by each of the image capturing devices at the respective imaging areas is combined to form a virtual camera data array (105) that represents an alignment of the image data associated with each of the imaging areas to the corresponding physical positioning of the imaging areas relative to the web. The image output signals generated by each of the plurality of image capturing devices may be processed by a single image processor, or a number of image processors (114) that is less than the number of image capturing devices. The processor or processors are arranged to generate the image data forming the virtual camera array.

A method of producing a printed product includes creating a project specification and storing the it on a server, the project specification including a palette of selected master colors, a printing substrate, a printing technique, and an ink base for a printed product; determining whether a quality assurance color is available for each master color, for master colors having an associated quality assurance color, automatically associating quality assurance color information with the master colors; generating a quality assurance package corresponding to the project specification, the quality assurance package including the quality assurance color information; providing a converter with access to the project specification and the quality assurance package; the converter producing the printed product according to the project specification and scoring the printed product against the quality assurance package; and receiving from the converter a score indicative of the printed product's appearance measured against the quality assurance color information.

A method for calibrating a printing process by applying a selected adjustment curve to an image input file to produce an output file. The adjustment curve is derived to match a target tonal response curve having a function value for 0 that is non-zero or has a discontinuity between 0 and 10%. The adjustment curve has a basic part selected from limited options and an intersecting highlight part derived using a 1-dimensional function having input parameters selected from limited options. The adjustment curve has a starting point (X1, Y1), a highlight curve part having a first slope at the starting point and a first intersection with the basic curve part at (X2, Y2). The first slope and first intersection are among the input parameters selected from limited options. The basic curve part has a second slope at a midrange point (X3>X2, Y3>Y2).

A microfilter comprising a polymer layer formed from epoxy-based photo-definable dry film, and a plurality of apertures each extending through the polymer layer. A method of forming a microfilter is also disclosed. The method includes providing a first layer of epoxy-based photo-definable dry film disposed on a substrate, exposing the first layer to energy through a mask to form a pattern, defined by the mask, in the first layer of dry film, forming, from the exposed first layer of dry film, a polymer layer having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, the plurality of apertures having a distribution defined by the pattern, and removing the polymer layer from the substrate.

An inspection system according to the present invention includes: an abnormality detector that performs automatic inspection for detecting an abnormality on the basis of a read image obtained by causing a reader to read an image that is formed on a recording medium by executing a print job; and a hardware processor that, when the abnormality is detected in the automatic inspection, causes the reader to perform specific shading operation involving cleaning the reader after stopping the print job but before restarting the print job, wherein the specific shading operation is performed in a shorter time than normal shading operation involving cleaning the reader, the normal shading operation being performed except when the abnormality is detected in the automatic inspection.

The invention provides a method and an apparatus for adopting analogue decor templates in decor printing, including a similarity comparison between at least one of (1) to n hyperspectral digital reference images of the analogue decor template and at least one of (1) to n hyperspectral digital actual images of a substrate with decor. A decor-specific profile target is adjusted such that the digital template of the analogue decor template can be output on a substrate by way of an output medium in such a way that the colour deviation between at least one of (1) to n reference images of the analogue decor template and at least one of (1) to n actual images of the substrate with decor is below a specified target value.

A film inspection system includes a film positioner having a film holder configured to hold a printed film having a printed layer on a substrate of the printed film. The film holder is configured to fix a perimeter of the printed film. The film positioner includes a film stretcher positioned relative to the film holder to interface with the printed film. The film stretcher is movable relative to the film holder to stretch the printed film at a stretch area while the perimeter of the printed film is fixed by the film holder. The film inspection system includes a vision system having an imaging device configured to image the printed film at a scan area within the stretch area. The film holder and the imaging device are movable relative to each other to move the scan area along the printed layer to image the printed layer of the printed film.

Provided herein are methods and systems for the custom-printing of an item including, e.g., a) accepting customer request data for a workpiece and customer request data for a graphic design to cover at least a portion of the workpiece; b) accepting workpiece identifier data from a workpiece database based on the customer request data; c) accepting print design data from a print design database based on the customer request data for a graphic design; d) associating the print design data with the workpiece identifier data; e) printing the print design data onto a hydrofilm portion; f) placing the hydrofilm portion onto a fluid surface in a dip tank; g) applying an activator to the hydrofilm portion to yield an activated hydrofilm portion; and h) dipping the workpiece into the dip tank, whereby the activated hydrofilm portion is bonded to the workpiece as a result of the dipping.

A method of recording inspection data relating to print products formed on a printing press, the print products including a sequence of repeating format images, the method including the step of storing digital images of defective parts of a print product, wherein a compressed video stream of a regular sequence of the format images is stored for at least a clipping of the repeating format.