Print control bar

Abstract

Print control strip for printing onto a substrate which moves in a printing direction during the printing process, the substrate having a substrate width which extends perpendicular to the printing direction, the print control strip extending at least over a part of the substrate width and comprising at least one row on a line of extension in the printing direction, and one or each row comprising a plurality of measuring fields which are arranged next to each other perpendicular to the printing direction, and each measuring field having an area center of gravity and a front edge on the line of extension in the printing direction. The invention is based on the task of creating a solution to enable monitoring of the printing quality by means of a print control strip comprising a plurality of measuring fields even in the case of a non-linear edge course of the motif, while optimizing the space requirement and thereby the substrate requirement. The print control strip according to the invention is characterized in that the area center of gravity or the front edge of at least one measuring field is arranged offset in the printing direction or counter to the printing direction relative to the area center of gravity of at least one adjacent measuring field of the same row.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a print control strip for printing onto a substrate which moves in a printing direction X during the printing process, the substrate having a substrate width B which extends perpendicular to the printing direction X, wherein the print control strip extends at least over a portion of the substrate width B, wherein the print control strip comprises at least one row in the extension of the printing direction X, and wherein one or each row comprises a plurality of measurement fields which are arranged next to one another perpendicular to the printing direction X, and wherein each measurement field has an area center of gravity and a front edge in the extension of the printing direction X.

[0002] Furthermore, the invention also relates to a printed product comprising a substrate and a subject printed onto the substrate, a method for producing a corresponding printed product and a method for determining at least one printing parameter. BACKGROUND

[0003] It is known from the prior art that the printing quality of a printed product is assessed by determining various printing parameters. Such printing parameters are, for example, the color density, which is a measure for the correct color reproduction of the basic colors from which the printed image (hereinafter also referred to as subject) is printed. Furthermore, the printing quality can be assessed on the basis of printing parameters such as the correct positioning of the individual printing colors relative to one another (also referred to as register), the presence of repeats, the color tone, the shift or the increase in the color tone value, etc.

[0004] These values can be determined on printed products taken from production by means of corresponding measuring and evaluation devices, for example densitometers.

[0005] However, it is generally the practical approach, for example in the case of a rotary printing press, i.e. in the case of a printing press which prints on web-shaped printing material, to check the various printing parameters, for example in particular the color density, the register or the color register inline, during the ongoing printing process and to adjust the adherence to the required printing parameters. For this purpose, corresponding sensors are used in the printing press, which detect the position on the printed product in the ongoing production and determine the printing parameters accordingly.

[0006] In order to determine printing parameters on a printed product removed from a printing machine and in order to detect printing parameters within the machine, the prior art discloses printing control bars which consist of a plurality of measuring zones arranged side by side over the width of the substrate and thus perpendicular to the printing direction. These measuring zones usually comprise both full-tone areas and half-tone areas for the basic colors used for printing in order to determine the color density or the tone value increase, as well as various measuring zones for determining other printing parameters.

[0007] In order to be able to determine and evaluate the printing quality over the entire width of the substrate (Bedruckstoff), such measuring zones are arranged over the entire printing width, which usually essentially corresponds to the substrate width.

[0008] In the case of a printing machine which is adjusted in color using separate devices, such as a colorimeter or a color nozzle, a measuring zone is usually arranged for each printing color in the area of extension of the colorimeter or the color nozzle in order to be able to adjust the coloration zone by zone.

[0009] The prior art also discloses printing control bars which consist of only one row of measuring zones over the line of extension of the printing direction, which are arranged side by side perpendicular to the printing direction and thus over the line of extension of the substrate width B.

[0010] However, printing control bars are also disclosed which consist of a plurality of rows, wherein each row comprises measuring zones arranged side by side. The printing control bars disclosed in the prior art comprise measuring zones for determining the color density, in particular, which have a size of approximately three by three millimeters. However, larger and smaller measuring zones are also disclosed, both depending on the sensor used and on the number of printing parameters to be determined.

[0011] The printing control bars disclosed in the prior art are configured as straight-line extending bars (Balken), which can be arranged on the front (vorlaufend) or rear edge of the printing form (Druckform) and / or of the printed image or, in the case of a plurality of copies printed in one printed product, in the center of the printed image.

[0012] The configuration of the straight-line printing control bars is expedient and also reasonable in the configuration of the printing form, which is configured, for example, as a printing plate with straight-line curved legs, which is usually tensioned in straight-line tensioning channels (Spannkanälen) on a printing form cylinder, and in the printing product, which is, for example, a newspaper or a magazine, which has edges which usually extend straight-line, mostly at right angles.

[0013] However, there are also some applications, for example in the case of packaging printing, in which the printed product and the motif are thus not composed of a plurality of mostly rectangular printed pages, but in which a plurality of printed images of arbitrary shape, for example circular, oval or trapezoidal, must be arranged in the motif. By means of a suitable nesting of these printed images, the number of printed images arranged on the printed product and thus the number of copies (Nutzen) can be significantly increased. However, the straight edges of the printing plate or the use of straight printing control bars significantly reduces the number of printed images arranged on the printing plate and thus the number of copies. SUMMARY

[0014] The task on which the invention is based is thus to create a solution with which it is achieved that the printing quality can be monitored by means of a printing control bar comprising a plurality of measuring zones even in the case of non-straight edges of the motif, while at the same time the space requirement and thus the substrate requirement is optimized.

[0015] The task is solved by means of a printing control bar according to the invention, a printed product according to the invention, a method for producing a printed product according to the invention and a method for detecting at least one printing parameter according to the invention.

[0016] The printing control bar according to the invention is characterized in that the area center of gravity of the at least one measuring zone or the front edge of the at least one measuring zone is arranged offset in the printing direction X or counter to the printing direction X relative to the area center of gravity of at least one adjacent measuring zone of the same row.

[0017] The printed product according to the invention is characterized in that a printing control bar according to the invention is printed onto the printed product.

[0018] The method for determining at least one printing parameter according to the invention is characterized in that the measuring zones contained in the printing control bar according to the invention are detected and the coordinates of each measuring zone on the extension line of the substrate width B and on the extension line of the printing direction are stored.

[0019] The advantage of this design of the printing control bar or of the corresponding printed product and of the method associated therewith is that by means of the printing control bar it is thus possible to determine and / or adjust the printing parameters in the case of a maximum utilization of the printed images even in the case of non-straight edges of the printed images.

[0020] According to the invention, the area center of gravity of the at least one row of measuring zones of the printing control bar or the front edge of the at least one row of measuring zones thus lies on a non-straight line.

[0021] The non-straight line spanned by the point of the area center of gravity of each measuring zone in a row or by the point of the front edge of each measuring zone in a row or of each front edge can be at least partially a line that is, for example, circular-arc-segment-shaped and / or sinusoidal and / or zigzag-shaped and / or trapezoidal. The line can at least partially have a continuous and / or discontinuous course.

[0022] In order to also be able to detect the measuring zones of the corresponding non-straight printed control bar inline and thus automatically by means of the at least one sensor and to be able to evaluate the printing parameters, according to the design of the application, the coordinates on the extension line of the substrate width B and on the extension line in the printing direction are stored by each measuring zone to be detected. Here, the coordinates of the entire area; or the coordinates of the points of the front edge of the measuring zone; and / or the coordinates of the area center of gravity of the measuring zone; and / or the coordinates of an arbitrary point within the measuring zone can be stored by each measuring zone.

[0023] Thus, during the detection of the at least one printing parameter, by detecting at least one measuring zone by means of the at least one sensor, the coordinates on the extension line of the substrate width B and on the extension line in the printing direction X are called up for each detected measuring zone, thus ensuring the detection of the measuring zone on the one hand and also storing and making available the content of the measuring zone, for example the grid and the allocation of the printing colors.

[0024] Preferred extensions of the application result from the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0025] Various embodiments of the application are explained in greater detail based on the drawings, without being limited thereto. Herein:

[0026] Fig. 1 shows a printed product with a printed-on printed control bar according to the prior art

[0027] Fig. 2 shows a design of a single-row straight printed control bar according to the prior art

[0028] Fig. 3 shows a design of a two-row straight printed control bar according to the prior art

[0029] Fig. 4 shows an example of a printed product with a non-straight motif and a straight printed control bar

[0030] Figure 5 An example of a printed product with a non-straight motif and a non-straight printed control bar adapted to the shape of the motif is shown

[0031] Figure 6 The unwinding of the motif on the outer surface of the plate cylinder is shown

[0032] Figure 7Fragment of a single row of non-linear print control bars with square measuring fields

[0033] Figure 8 Fragment of two rows of non-linear print control bars

[0034] Figure 9 Fragment of a single row of non-linear print control bars with circular measuring fields

[0035] Figure 10 Fragment of a single row of non-linear print control bars with non-uniform measuring fields. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] Fig. 1 shows a printed product 1 comprising a substrate 2 on which a single- or multi-coloured motif 3 is printed. For printing the substrate 2 having a product length L and a substrate width B, the substrate 2 is conveyed through a not shown printing machine in a printing direction X and is printed in the process.

[0037] It is irrelevant for the present invention whether the printing machine is a sheet-fed printing machine (Bogen- druckmaschine) for printing an arc-shaped substrate 2 or a web printing machine, in which case a web-shaped substrate 2 is printed, which is subsequently divided into a plurality of sheets or is wound up again for further processing.

[0038] In order to be able to evaluate the printing quality unambiguously and / or in order to be able to evaluate the printing quality during printing, a print control bar 10 is mostly printed onto the substrate 2. As shown in Fig. 1, this print control bar 10 can be arranged at the front edge of the printed product 1. Although not shown in Fig. 1, it is also possible to arrange the print control bar 10 in the rear edge region or, in the case of multiple copies, within the motif 3.

[0039] Fig. 2 shows the detail A of Fig. 1 on an enlarged scale. It can be seen here that the print control bar 10 consists of a plurality of measuring fields 12 arranged side by side in the extension of the substrate width B. Normally, the measuring fields 12 adjacent to one another each have a different filling: either these measuring fields are printed in different colours or, in addition to full-tone areas, areas having a defined grid are printed in the same or different colours. Further details relating to the design of the respective measuring fields 12 can be obtained from the relevant technical literature.

[0040] Fig. 3 likewise shows a fragment A of a print control bar 10 of the prior art on a correspondingly enlarged scale, wherein the print control bar 10 has a plurality of rows 11 arranged one after the other in the extension of the printing direction X, wherein each row 11 has a plurality of measuring fields 12 arranged side by side in the extension perpendicular to the printing direction X.

[0041] The example of Fig. 3 shows a print control bar 10 with a first row 11-1 of measuring zones 12 preceding and a second row 11-2 following in the printing direction X. The prior art also discloses print control bars 10 with more than two rows 11, but the number of rows 11 is not essential to the present application.

[0042] Fig. 4 shows an example in which the use of a straight print control bar 10 of the prior art is disadvantageous. In the case of a motif 3 having a straight and in particular a right-angled contour, for example as shown in Fig. 1, the insertion of a print control bar 10 results in only a relatively small additional space requirement and thus a relatively small additional requirement of substrate 2, whereas in the case of a motif 3 having a non-straight contour, for example as shown in Fig. 4, the straight print control bar 10 results in an increase in substrate consumption due to the large area which is not printed and thus not usable.

[0043] Such a motif 3 as exemplarily shown in Fig. 4 is for example used in packaging printing, in which the motif 3 comprises a plurality of copies 4 of arbitrary shape and which are preferably arranged in a relatively to each other optimized manner with regard to the space requirement. Such copies 4 can have any shape, for example a circular shape, so that in a correspondingly optimized arrangement the motif 3 has a non-straight contour.

[0044] As can be seen from Fig. 4, in the case of such a non-straight and thus non- straight contour of the motif 3, a correspondingly large space requirement and thus an increased requirement of substrate 2 for each printed motif 3 results in the case of a simultaneous use of a straight print control bar 10, since the area between the straight print control bar 10 and the non-straight contour of the motif 3 cannot be utilized.

[0045] Figure 5 The motif 3 already shown in Fig. 4 is shown, which has a non-straight contour due to the shape of the copies 4 and / or the arrangement of the copies 4. Thus, by using a print control bar 10 according to the present application which is adapted to the contour of the motif 3, on the one hand the distance of the print control bar 10 to the motif 3 can be kept uniformly small over the entire width of the motif 3 or over the entire substrate width.

[0046] On the other hand, the distance between the non-straight print control bar 10 and the contour of the motif 3 which is behind in the printing direction X can likewise be kept small, so that only a minimum additional space is required in the case of an arrangement of the motif 3 together with the print control bar 10 around the mantle surface of the plate cylinder, and so that the front edge and the rear edge of the entire print image can be joined together without a gap.

[0047] Figure 6 The motif 3 is shown Figure 5The subject 3 shown is wound around the side surface of the printing cylinder. Using this printing control strip 10 according to the invention, a large number of copies 4, along with the printing control strip 10, can be arranged on the side surface of the printing cylinder while minimizing the unprinted and therefore unusable areas of the substrate 2. It is irrelevant here whether the printing cylinder is an engraved gravure printing cylinder or a printing cylinder with an extended printing plate (e.g., used in flexographic or offset printing methods).

[0048] In the case where the printing cylinder has an open printing plate such as a flexographic printing plate or an offset printing plate, the printing plate fixed on the printing cylinder can also have an edge that is adapted to the outline of the subject 3, so that as many copies 4 as possible can be arranged on the side surface without excessive loss of space.

[0049] Figure 7 It shows Figure 5 A detailed view of the printing control bar 10 shown, the printing control bar being designed to have a row 11 of square measuring areas 12, wherein according to Figure 5 The printing control strip 10 extends at least a portion of the substrate width B. As the substrate 2 passes through the printing apparatus in the printing direction X, the printing control strip 10 is printed onto the substrate 2 with all the printing colors in use and therefore with at least one printing color.

[0050] Along the extension line of the printing direction X, the printing control bar 10 includes a row 11 of measuring areas 12 arranged side by side perpendicular to the printing direction X, wherein, according to Figure 7 Only measurement areas 12-1 to 12-14 are shown in segment B.

[0051] Each measuring area 12 has a regional centroid 13-1 to 13-14 and a front edge 14 on an extension line in the printing direction X, wherein in Figure 7 For clarity, only the reference edges of the leading edges 14-2, 14-8, and 14-12 are equipped with reference numerals. However, of course... Figure 7 All measurement zones 12-1 to 12-14 shown have a front edge 14. Each measurement zone 12 also includes a centroid 13.

[0052] In order to make the printing control strip 10 conform to Figure 5 The non-linear edge adaptation of subject 3, at least one measurement area 12 is arranged with its region centroid 13 offset relative to the region centroid 13 of at least one adjacent measurement area 12 in the same row 11, either in the printing direction X or opposite to the printing direction X.

[0053] exist Figure 7In the example shown, the centroid 13-2 of measurement area 12-2 is offset by an offset amount Δx relative to the centroid 13-1 of measurement area 12-1 in the printing direction X. In addition to measurement areas 12-7 and 12-8, the centroids 13 of areas arranged side by side perpendicular to the printing direction X also have an offset amount Δx relative to each other in the printing direction X or opposite to the printing direction X.

[0054] Therefore, the centroid of the region 13-1 to 13-14 lies on the non-linear line 15. Figure 7 In the example shown, the non-linear path has a substantially sinusoidal orientation. Although Figure 7 The line 15 shown is therefore essentially Figure 5 The printing control bar 10 shown is due to the fact that in Figure 5 The subject matter 3 shown in the example has a sinusoidal profile, however, depending on... Figure 5 As shown in copy 4, line 15 can also be at least partially in any shape, such as an arc segment, a zigzag, or a trapezoidal shape.

[0055] Despite Figure 5 or Figure 7 As not shown in the diagram, the line 15 on which the centroid 13 or leading edge 14 of the measurement area 12 of at least one row 11 is located may have at least a continuous orientation and / or a discontinuous orientation. The orientation of the line 15, and thus the outline of the printed control strip 10, is substantially dependent on the shape of the copy 4, and therefore on the outline of the subject 3 as a whole of the copy 4, thereby achieving a sudden discontinuous orientation for maximum spatial optimization.

[0056] Due to the square shape of the measuring area 12 and due to Figure 7 The same size as the measuring area 12 shown, in Figure 7 In the case of measurement areas 12-1 to 12-7 and 12-8 to 12-14 shown, the corresponding front edge 14 is arranged offset relative to the front edge 14 of the adjacent measurement area 12 perpendicular to the printing direction X, either in the printing direction X or opposite to the printing direction X.

[0057] exist Figure 7 In the example shown, only the front edges 14 of the measurement areas 12-7 and 12-8 have no offset Δx relative to each other in the printing direction X.

[0058] Therefore, under the assumption Figure 7 In the exemplary design shown, which is symmetrical about the imaginary line between measuring areas 12-7 and 12-8, the front edge 14-13 of measuring area 12-13 also has an offset Δx relative to the front edge 14-14 of measuring area 12-14 when viewed in the printing direction X.

[0059] Figure 8 A fragment B is shown in Figure 5 , although the print control bar 10 has multiple rows 11, namely a first row 11-1 and a second row 11-2.

[0060] In this regard, all statements made in relation to the embodiment shown in Figure 7 apply to those in Figure 8 , although there is the difference that the print control bar 10 has a multiple row design.

[0061] Figure 9 An exemplary design of a print control bar 10 according to the present application is shown as a detailed view of Figure 5 , which differs from the print control bar 10 shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8 in that the measuring zones 12 have a circular shape, for example.

[0062] With the exception of the measuring zones 12-7 and 12-8, the remaining measuring zones 12 have an offset Δχ in the printing direction X from the respectively adjacent measuring zone 12 in respect of the respective area center of gravity 13. Thus, due to the circular shape of the measuring zones 12, the leading edge 14 is generally not the preferred reference for the offset Δχ between the leading edge 14 of a respectively adjacent measuring zone 12, since for this a specific point would need to be defined. In the case of this embodiment, therefore, the area center of gravity 13 of the respective measuring zone 12 is suitable as a reference variable for the offset Δχ.

[0063] However, in contrast to the embodiments shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8 , it is possible or simpler in the case of the example shown in Figure 9 for the envelope 15 to be defined by the leading edge 14, whereby said envelope defines the entire contour of the print control bar 10.

[0064] Figure 10 Another possible design of a print control bar 10 according to the present application is shown. Figure 10 A fragment B is likewise shown in Figure 5 .

[0065] Figure 10 A design of the measuring zones 12 is shown, in which the respective measuring zone 12, although having the same measuring zone width b perpendicular to the printing direction X and thus parallel to the substrate width B, has a non-straight and measuring zone-specific leading edge in this design. The leading edge of each measuring zone 12 is thus a segment of the contour of the print control bar 10, which is preferably adapted to the motif 3. In the case of the example shown in Figure 10 , the measuring zone height h is the same for each measuring zone 12, but this is not mandatory.

[0066] Due to the non-linear shape of the front edge 14 of the measurement zone 12, the front edge 14 is an unsuitable reference point with respect to defining the offset Δχ, but this offset Δχ between the measurement zone 12 and the adjacent measurement zone 12 can be done by the respective area center of gravity 13. In Figure 10 In the case of the example shown, the offset Δχ in the printing direction X between the area center of gravity 13-1 of the measurement zone 12-1 and the area center of gravity 13-2 of the measurement zone 12-2 is shown by way of example.

[0067] This means, in contrast, that, in particular depending on the design of the measurement zone 12, at least a part of the non-linear profile of the print control strip 10 in the extension perpendicular to the printing direction X is defined by the corresponding profile of the motif 3, by the offset Δχ of the area center of gravity 13 or by the offset Δχ of the front edge 14 or by the envelope 15 of the front edge 14, wherein the corresponding profile of the motif 3 is defined by the shape and / or the arrangement relative to one another of the respective copies 4.

[0068] When using the print control strip 10 shown in Figure 5 and Figures 7 to 10 , the print control strip is printed onto the substrate 2 by the printing plate. Similar to the image shown in Figure 5 , the corresponding printed product 1 has the corresponding print control strip 10.

[0069] In order to determine at least one printing parameter, such as a color density or a tone value increase, at least one measurement zone 12 of the print control strip 10 as described in Figure 5 and Figures 7 to 10 is detected by at least one not shown sensor. The sensor can be at least one changierender sensor, for example a CCD camera known in the prior art, which scans the respective measurement zone 12 across the substrate width B.

[0070] However, it is also possible to install a plurality of sensors across the substrate width B in order to simultaneously scan the substrate 2 across the substrate width B. This optical detection of the measurement zones 12 of the printed print control strip 10 arranged across the substrate width B and the determination of the printing parameters are sufficiently disclosed in the prior art.

[0071] However, in the case of the measurement and / or adjustment systems for cylinder printing machines disclosed in the prior art, the detection is simpler in this respect, since the print control strip 10, which is straight and extends perpendicular to the printing direction X, always reappears after the same printing length L after each pass and thus across the entire substrate width B.

[0072] However, due to the non-linear shape of the print control bar 10, in order to detect the measuring zones 12 of the print control bar 10 according to the application across the substrate width B, it is necessary to store the coordinates of each measuring zone 12 to be detected on the extension line of the substrate width B and on the extension line of the printing direction X, or in another form based on reference points, in the evaluation unit for determining the printing parameters of the measuring and / or adjusting system and / or in the control unit or in the controller of the printing machine.

[0073] This can be done, for example, by storing the geometric area or the area boundaries of the individual measuring zones 12 or by storing the coordinates of the points of the leading edge 14 and / or the coordinates of the area center of gravity 13 and / or an arbitrary point within each measuring zone 12.

[0074] It is also possible to store reference points within the print control bar 10 from which the respective measuring zone 12 is defined by vector data.

[0075] The coordinates or other geometric specifications regarding the position of the measuring zones 12 are therefore called up before or during the determination of the at least one printing parameter and before or during the detection of the measuring zones 12 by the at least one sensor, so that it is thus possible to calculate at which position on the substrate 2 a particular measuring zone 12 is printed and detected or can be detected, in order to be able to present the data and the printing parameters determined thereby as well and thus to carry out a target-actual comparison and / or a plausibility check.

[0076] In the case of the print control bar 10 according to the application, the definition and storage of the geometry of the print control bar 10 and of each individual measuring zone 12 is necessary in order to be able to calculate when the at least one sensor detects a measuring zone 12 with the defined form and / or content or when the at least one sensor detects a measuring zone 12 with the defined form and / or content.

[0077] For this purpose, for example, the coordinates of each measuring zone 12 on the extension line of the substrate width B and on the extension line of the printing direction X are called up, in order to be able to determine the detection of the measuring zones 12 thereby.

[0078] List of reference signs

[0079] 1 printed product

[0080] 2 substrate

[0081] 3 subject matter

[0082] 4 copy

[0083] 10 print control bar

[0084] 11 line

[0085] 12 measuring zone

[0086] 13 region center

[0087] 14 front edge

[0088] 15 line

[0089] X print direction

[0090] L print length

[0091] B substrate width

[0092] Δx offset

[0093] b measurement region width

[0094] h measurement region height

Claims

1. A print control strip (10) for printing onto a substrate (2) moving in a printing direction X during a printing process, the substrate having a substrate width B extending perpendicular to the printing direction X, wherein the print control strip (10) extends at least over a part of the substrate width B, wherein the print control strip (10) comprises at least one row (11) in the extension in the printing direction X, and wherein one or each row (11) comprises a plurality of measurement zones (12) arranged side by side perpendicular to the printing direction X, and wherein each measurement zone (12) has an area center of gravity (13) and a leading edge (14) in the extension in the printing direction X, wherein the measurement zone comprises full tone areas and half tone areas of a basic color for printing for determining a color density or a tone value increase, characterized in that, The area center of gravity (13) of at least one measuring zone (12) is arranged offset in the printing direction X or counter to the printing direction X relative to the area center of gravity (13) of at least one adjacent measuring zone (12) of the same row (11), or wherein the front edge (14) of at least one measuring zone (12) is arranged offset in the printing direction X or counter to the printing direction X relative to the front edge (14) of at least one adjacent measuring zone (12) of the same row (11).

2. The print control bar (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The print control strip (10) comprises a row (11).

3. The print control bar (10) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that, The area center of gravity (13) of at least one row (11) of measuring zones (12) or the front edge (14) of at least one row (11) of measuring zones (12) lies on a line (15) which is not straight.

4. The print control bar (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that The area center of gravity (13) or the front edge (14) of at least one row (11) of measuring zones (12) lies on a line (15) which is at least partially circular arc segment-shaped or on a line (15) which is sinusoidal or on a line (15) which is sawtooth-shaped or trapezoidal.

5. The print control bar (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The area center of gravity (13) or the front edge (14) of at least one row (11) of measuring zones (12) lies on a line (15) which has an at least partially continuous and / or discontinuous course.

6. The print control bar (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that At least one row (11) of measuring zones (12) has the same area.

7. The print control bar (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that At least one part of the measuring zones (12) has a rectangular or circular shape.

8. A printed product (1) comprising a substrate (2) and a subject matter (3) printed onto the substrate (2), characterized in that, The print control strip (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is printed onto the printed product (1).

9. A method for manufacturing a printed product (1), in which a subject matter (3) is printed onto a substrate (2) by means of a printing device, characterized in that, The print control strip (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is printed onto the printed product (1).

10. A method for determining at least one printing parameter, wherein, For detecting at least one printing parameter, at least one measuring zone (12) of at least one print control strip (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is detected by at least one sensor and evaluated by a computing unit, wherein for each measuring zone (12) detected by the at least one sensor, coordinates on an extension line of the substrate width B and on an extension line of the printing direction X are stored.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein, Stored as coordinates for each measuring zone (12) are the coordinates of a point of the front edge (14) of the measuring zone (12) and / or the coordinates of the area center of gravity (13) of the measuring zone (12) and / or the coordinates of an arbitrary point within the measuring zone (12).

12. The method of any one of claims 10-11, wherein, Prior to or during the determination of at least one printing parameter, at least one measuring zone (12) is detected by at least one sensor, and for each detected measuring zone (12), the coordinates on an extension line of the substrate width B and on an extension line of the printing direction X are called up. Prior to or during the determination of at least one printing parameter, at least one measuring zone (12) is detected by at least one sensor, and for each detected measuring zone (12), the coordinates on an extension line of the substrate width B and on an extension line of the printing direction X are called up.

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