The Xeikon DCP/50D is a color, electrophotographic press. Its ability to handle variable data and variable page lengths make it a top competitor in the digital printing markets. The technology is a dry toner based system, set in a configuration of four units, and able to duplex in a single pass. Multiple jobs, handling multiple images and data can now be printed in sequence with no press adjustment needed between jobs. With this new technology come new issues in maintaining desired image quality on press. In traditional printing, such as offset, accounting for dot gain and transfer curves were an important part of maintaining the desired results. A transfer curve accounts for the dot gain and adjusts the image accordingly. Although the dot gain on the Xeikon DCP/50D press is minimal, the system allows for several different dot gain settings to be applied to the file in-RIP (Raster Image Processor) . These dot gain setting adjustments on the Xeikon DCP/50D are transfer curves that are applied to the file. After testing and establishing the effects of the individual dot gain settings (or transfer curves) within the Xeikon system, this thesis project attempts to establish one of the settings as an optimum curve setting for overall image quality in images of varied keyness and color. In addition to an optimum curve for all image types, this thesis project attempts to gain an understanding of the Xeikon\u27s transfer curve settings and their effects on the different types of images. High key images were favored by different transfer curves than low key images in traditional printing. If this concept carries over, different types of images will benefit from different dot gain settings on the Xeikon DCP/50D
