Color variation of the gray balance target as related to color misregistration in multi-angle halftone color printing

This study was to investigate how color variation of a gray balance target was related to color misregistration in the multi-angle halftone color printing process. The dot overlap ping patterns of a gray balance target with 25%, 50% and 75% screen period off-register conditions were simulated on computer; the Neugebauer fractional areas from the ran domly selected thirty-one unit areas were calculated through the application of CAD pro grams and programing. The n-modified Neugebauer equations were then used to predict the colors of the targets and color differences between them. In order to verify the theo retical findings, an experimental study was also conducted. There is no significant color difference between the gray balance targets due to color mis registration. The color differences between the targets due to different dot configurations, both from the mathematical analysis study and the experimental study, are all smaller than one AE value although the color difference within a rosette pattern for an individual unit area can vary as much as 16 AE values. Conclusions: (1) One can not reject the null hypothesis of this study which states that color misregistration will not cause significant color variation in gray balance target in multi-angle color printing; (2) the color variation due to color misregistration on a gray balance target will be so small that it can be negligible for the purpose of being a control target for the multi-angle halftone color printing process