The preservation and conservation of ink jet and electrophotographic printed materials

This research project has investigated the light fastness of ink jet and electrophotographic printed materials by the means of an extensive accelerated and natural ageing test programme. The effect of visible radiation of different wavebands on the deterioration of a selection of ink jet printed materials has also been assessed. The findings of the research indicate that all of the ink jet printed materials tested are sensitive to light and should not therefore, be put on permanent display. Most of the ink jet printed samples exhibited greater light sensitivity to the shorter wavelengths of the visible spectrum, than the longer wavelengths, with damage decreasing as wavelength increases. This relationship was not evident with the cyan and blue printed samples, which showed that their light sensitivity was determined by the spectral absorption characteristics of the printed patch. Some of the ink jet printed materials produced erratic fading rates on exposure to light. This phenomenon was attributed to either the occurrence of photochromism or the disintegration of the dye particles in the ink, but further testing needs to be conducted to gain a better understanding of this reaction. Other factors also influenced the light fastness of the ink jet materials, such as the type of paper employed for printing, ink concentration and ink combination. The electrophotographic printed materials were found to be more stable to light, although the yellow toner from some of the systems would show noticeable fading after approximately 65 to 325 years on permanent display (at 50 lux for eight hours per day). A range of basic conservation treatments was also been investigated and the results indicated that ink jet print materials are very sensitive to all forms of aqueous treatments. Finally, thermal/dark ageing has been performed on the digital printed papers employed in this investigation. The conclusion is that all of the papers are prone to yellowing in storage

An entrepreneurial framework for deciding on the implementation of large format digital printing internationally

This study focuses on entrepreneurs within the SME sector using large format digital printing (LFDP) because of the changes in technology that influences the decisionmaking processes of the entrepreneur in the purchasing of a new LFDP. These fast changes are likely to continue and can cause technologies to become obsolete overnight. The entrepreneurs within the LFDP industry find themselves in the midst of these fast changes and are faced with a dilemma. On the one hand, they need to make sure that the technology used produces consistent and quality products. On the other hand, the entrepreneur needs to ensure an optimal return on investments. From the literature and the findings of the study, the researcher recommends a change to an existing model on a consultant involvement purchase of high technology products, which is then adapted to integrate resource-forecasting areas together with timing and type of information required as well as external environment scanning. The existing model’s focus is on the individual’s ability to make decisions based on their own knowledge. However, by integrating technology forecasting components, and scanning the business environment and resource forecasting needed the decision-maker will be better equipped to make decisions that also takes into account the external environment. This will also allow them to plan and manage growth in a systematic way. Therefore the proposed model takes into account individual capabilities and technology forecasting components that can facilitate the decision-making process. The adapted model on decision-making clearly delineates that the combination of entrepreneurial qualities and technology forecasting techniques in the LFDP industry will ultimately assist the entrepreneur on various levels in deciding on a new LFDP

ID Photograph hashing : a global approach

This thesis addresses the question of the authenticity of identity photographs, part of the documents required in controlled access. Since sophisticated means of reproduction are publicly available, new methods / techniques should prevent tampering and unauthorized reproduction of the photograph. This thesis proposes a hashing method for the authentication of the identity photographs, robust to print-and-scan. This study focuses also on the effects of digitization at hash level. The developed algorithm performs a dimension reduction, based on independent component analysis (ICA). In the learning stage, the subspace projection is obtained by applying ICA and then reduced according to an original entropic selection strategy. In the extraction stage, the coefficients obtained after projecting the identity image on the subspace are quantified and binarized to obtain the hash value. The study reveals the effects of the scanning noise on the hash values of the identity photographs and shows that the proposed method is robust to the print-and-scan attack. The approach focusing on robust hashing of a restricted class of images (identity) differs from classical approaches that address any imageCette thèse traite de la question de l’authenticité des photographies d’identité, partie intégrante des documents nécessaires lors d’un contrôle d’accès. Alors que les moyens de reproduction sophistiqués sont accessibles au grand public, de nouvelles méthodes / techniques doivent empêcher toute falsification / reproduction non autorisée de la photographie d’identité. Cette thèse propose une méthode de hachage pour l’authentification de photographies d’identité, robuste à l’impression-lecture. Ce travail met ainsi l’accent sur les effets de la numérisation au niveau de hachage. L’algorithme mis au point procède à une réduction de dimension, basée sur l’analyse en composantes indépendantes (ICA). Dans la phase d’apprentissage, le sous-espace de projection est obtenu en appliquant l’ICA puis réduit selon une stratégie de sélection entropique originale. Dans l’étape d’extraction, les coefficients obtenus après projection de l’image d’identité sur le sous-espace sont quantifiés et binarisés pour obtenir la valeur de hachage. L’étude révèle les effets du bruit de balayage intervenant lors de la numérisation des photographies d’identité sur les valeurs de hachage et montre que la méthode proposée est robuste à l’attaque d’impression-lecture. L’approche suivie en se focalisant sur le hachage robuste d’une classe restreinte d’images (d’identité) se distingue des approches classiques qui adressent une image quelconqu

Engineering digital technologies: A model for integrating digital textile printing in costume design and production education

The evolutionary use of digital technologies in fashion, textile, and costume design has led to significant changes in the appearances, processes, and pedagogies of the three related, yet distinct, disciplines. As multiple technologies permeate the fashion and textile industries and find their place in the costume industry, the need to educate students in the current and future methods and techniques will always be a necessity (Britt & Shaw, 2015). This study outlines the advantages of using digital textile printing (DTP) in costume/theatrical fashion design practice and promotes the integration of digital textile design (DTD) and DTP methods in costume design and production education. The study was conducted in three phases; in Phase I the use of DTP for costumes and theatrical fashion was investigated, in Phase II costume educators were interviewed to understand the perception and use of DTP in costume programs in post-secondary institutions, and in Phase III costume examples were created and evaluated by the researcher/designer. During this study, a taxonomy of DTP attributes was developed and models were proposed to integrate DTD and DTP in costume design and production processes. The taxonomy that illustrated the aesthetic and functional attributes of DTP was developed during Phase I and Phase II of this study. Special consideration was given to differentiate those attributes possible only with the advent of DTP technologies. The taxonomy led the design direction and execution of the costume examples as experience prototypes (EPs) in Phase III, to ensure that both the costume artifact and the costume process could be documented, evaluated, and communicated. Boehm’s (1988) Spiral Model was applied to three EP series resulting in a build of sixteen costume artifacts across nine experience prototypes. The iterative nature of the Spiral Model allowed the researcher/designer to spiral back and forth within the EPs’ design process and across the series to constantly reflect on finding alternative solutions for DTD and DTP. DTP has many capabilities that make it ideal for the costume industry. The ability to print on-demand and in smaller quantities (Carden, 2016), to recreate vintage patterns in endless colorways, to engineer prints within garment pattern pieces, and to give the illusion of embellishments and distressing (Bowles & Isaac, 2012). However not all costume shops or theatres have access to the hardware and equipment required for DTP (Darragh, 2011), thus jeopardizing the acceptance of DTP. In order for a technology, such as DTP, to be more widely accepted, it must be perceived as having greater relative advantage (Rogers, 2003) and easy to use (Dillion & Morris, 1996). As a result of this dissertation, two models were proposed to utilize DTD and DTP at various levels of technological integration within costume design and costume production processes. The EPs from Phase III, as well as a series of written and video tutorials about each EP process, served as examples for educators. The alternative methods to accessing the technology, the presentation of explicit and tacit digital knowledge, and the demonstration of the aesthetic DTP attributes expressed in this study, offer justification for the relative advantage and ease of use of DTP. It is hoped that this research contributes to the larger disciplines of fashion and textile as well as costume, and suggests stronger connections between the disciplines could afford venues for accessing digital technologies and for advancing digital skills

Factories of the Future

Engineering; Industrial engineering; Production engineerin

Factories of the Future

Engineering; Industrial engineering; Production engineerin

Defining Acceptable Colour Tolerances for Identity Branding in Natural Viewing Conditions

Graphic arts provide the channel for the reproduction of most brand communications. The reproduction tolerances in the graphic arts industry are based on standards that aim to produce visually acceptable outcomes. To communicate with their target audience brands, use a set of visual cues that may include the definition of a single or combinations of them to represent themselves. The outcomes are often defined entirely by their colour specification without an associating it to target parameters or suitable colour thresholds. This paper researches into the feasibility of defining colour tolerances for brand graphical representations. The National Health Service branding was used as a test case borne out of a need to resolve differences between contracted suppliers of brand graphics. Psychophysical evaluation of colour coded navigation used to facilitate wayfinding in hospitals under the varying illuminances across the estate was found to have a maximum acceptable colour difference threshold of 5ΔE00. The simulation of defined illumination levels in hospitals, between 25-3000 lux, resulted in an acceptable colour tolerance estimation for colour coded navigation of 3.6ΔE00. Using ICC media relative correction an experiment was designed to test the extent to which substrate white points could be corrected for colour differences between brand proofs and reproductions. Branded stationery and publications substrate corrections to achieve visual matches had acceptable colour difference thresholds of 9.5ΔE*ab for solid colours but only 2.5ΔE*ab. Substrate white point corrections on displays were found to be approximately 12ΔE*ab for solids and 5ΔE*ab for tints. Where display media were concerned the use of non-medical grade to view medical images and branded content was determined to be inefficient, unless suitable greyscale functions were employed. A STRESS test was carried out, for TC 1-93 Greyscale Calculation for Self-Luminous Devices, to compare DICOM GSDF with Whittle’s log brightness. Whittle’s function was found to outperform DICOM GSDF. The colour difference formulas used in this research were tested, using near neutral samples 2 judged by observers using estimated magnitude differences. The CIEDE2000 formula was found to outperform CIELAB despite unexpected outcomes when tested using displays. CIELAB was outperformed in ΔL* by CIEDE2000 for displays. Overall it was found that identity branding colour reproduction was mostly suited to graphic arts tolerances however, to address specific communications, approved tolerances reflecting viewing environments would be the most efficient approach. The findings in this research highlights the need for brand visualisation to consider the adoption of a strategy that includes graphic arts approaches. This is the first time that the subject of defining how brands achieve tolerances for their targeted visual communications has been researched

Federal Register

Daily publication of the U.S. Office of the Federal Register contains rules and regulations, proposed legislation and rule changes, and other notices, including "Presidential proclamations and Executive Orders, Federal agency documents having general applicability and legal effect, documents required to be published by act of Congress, and other Federal agency documents of public interest" (p. ii). Table of Contents starts on page iii