16 Evaluating color laser printers
Follow the guidelines below for testing text, graphics, and images.
Text documents
• Test multiple font types, such as: Times Roman, Helvetica, and Courier.
• Test different font sizes, from small (4 point) to large (36 point) fonts.
• Test in portrait and landscape modes.
Graphics
• Print pie charts and bar graphs.
• Print presentations with solid backgrounds and graduated backgrounds with clipart.
• Test in portrait and landscape modes.
• Test line art. (Print vertical, horizontal, diagonal, and curved lines.)
Images
• Test multiple images and types, using more than one application.
• Test images with dark and light detail areas.
Printing samples
Follow these guidelines for printing sample documents:
• When evaluating more than one printer’s print quality, it is crucial that you make a fair
comparison between printers. Print the same files on all printers, using the same or equivalent
settings. Use the same operating system and software application, and be sure to test
comparable printer drivers. (Each of these components interacts with the printing process and
can affect print quality.)
• Use more than one software application to make sure software/driver conflicts are not
affecting print quality.
• Plain papers vary among brands and the regions in which they are manufactured. Some plain
papers have a preferred print side. You should also take into account storage conditions as
well as how the papers handle toner or ink.
• Temperature and humidity should be kept constant for each printer tested. These factors may
affect toner-paper interactions and can have an impact on final print quality.
Viewing samples
Ideally, print quality should be evaluated under a mix of fluorescent and incandescent lighting.
Print quality should not be evaluated too close to windows, as natural light changes dramatically
with variations in weather and the time of day.
In addition, the color of the surrounding can significantly affect quality perception. White
surroundings may call undue attention to the color of the paper. Medium or light gray is usually the
best choice for the area surrounding where the sample documents will be evaluated.
Individuals may perceive print quality differently. HP strongly suggests that you have several
people evaluate your sample documents, in the same environment, with a consistent light source.
Have them vote on the samples that they like by listing them in order from the best to the worst.
Allow each person to rate the samples independently and then record the results. Also, have each
person establish a “cut line” for acceptable print quality for the end-user environment.
Note This process is referred to as psychometric testing and should be performed on all of the
sample documents that you are using to evaluate text, graphics, and image quality.
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