Image Quality Testing on the Production Line

Eastman Kodak Company is using a scanner-based image quality measurement system to perform production line testing of the image quality of a high-quality thermal media based imaging system. Automating this process has led to increased throughput, has guaranteed uniformity in measurement methods on multiple branches of the production line, and has transferred subjective evaluations into parametric data for use in SPC control/failure correlation analysis. Traditional production line assessment methods relied on using handheld instrumentation or using visual comparisons. These methods are inherently variable and often quite subjective. Objective, quantitative analysis provides repeatable data that can be used to track build performance, assess population quality, and track failure modes. Automation increases throughput and decreases the need for operator intervention. This paper will present the measurement system and methods that are being used in a production environment to automatically verify the output image quality of thermally based digitally created images.