A method and
system for a printing device is disclosed. The method and
system comprise printing a test pattern on a print medium and generating a
digital image of the printed test pattern by an imaging device. The method and
system include analyzing an interference pattern to measure for
distortion of the print medium and calibrating the printing device based upon the measured
distortion.In a preferred embodiment, the present invention utilizes the
reticle patterns, which are printed in the margins of the paper, which are measured real-time during printing. The interference or Moiré patterns created by superimposed reticles may be used to measure image
distortion, process direction misalignment, and misregistration caused by web distortion. The
advantage of this invention is that image distortion compensation, RIP (
Raster Image Processor) parameters, timing, or other printer characteristics may be adjusted on-the-fly in a closed feedback system, for high-speed
textile or paper
color printing, utilizing on-the-fly distortion or stretch measurement for accurate color and / or duplex images registration. In a duplex printer, automatic images alignment front-to-back is obtained by combining optically or logically the two images for the evaluation of interference patterns and amount of distortion in the process and scan direction.