Influence of surface properties of ink jet papers on print sharpness

In printing the final print quality depends on the quality of the digital image as well as the properties of the printing system and the paper used. One of the most widely used digital printing technology is ink jet where the ink is ejected directly onto a substrate from a jet device driven by an electronic signal. Most ink jet inks have a low viscosity and a low surface tension, which put high demands on the surface properties of papers. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of surface properties of commercially available papers suitable for ink jet printing on print sharpness. We used two high glossy, one glossy, one semi-gloss and two matte papers. For the assessment of the surface properties, we measured surface roughness with the portable Roughness Tester TR 200. We also measured surface gloss with QIP Glossmaster. For the characterization of print sharpness we used image analysis method. Print sharpness was estimated according to the modulation transfer function (MTF). Results obtained in this paper showed that the surface properties of paper are in direct relation with print sharpness.