A process control strip, for the visual checking of an exposure process for a recording material, includes coarse signal elements having a size which is substantially constant in the event of process fluctuations, and fine signal elements having a size which changes in the event of process fluctuations. In known process control strips, a dependence of the visual perception of the tone values of the coarse signal elements from the position of an observer in relation to a preferential direction of the coarse signal elements which is predetermined by the direction of propagation of lines, has been found. This angular dependence of the impression is overcome by providing at least one first region with coarse signal elements in the form of a line raster with lines which have a course different from a straight line.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, top-plan view showing a basic construction of a process control strip; and
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, top-plan view of a process control strip with a first and a second region.
Claims
1. A process control strip for the visual checking of an exposure process for recording material in the form of a printing plate, the process control strip comprising:
at least one first region including coarse signal elements having process-independent reference tone values changing within the process control strip, said coarse signal elements having a size being substantially constant in the event of process fluctuations, and said at least one first region being formed as a line raster with lines having a course different from a straight line;at least one second region including fine signal elements having a raster with fine raster dots representing a uniform highly process-dependent tone value in said at least one second region, said fine signal elements having a size changing in the event of process fluctuations; andsaid at least one first region and said at least one second region being at least partially contiguous to one another.
2. The process control strip according to claim 1, wherein:
said at least one first region is a multiplicity of first regions each having reference tone values being specific but different relative to one another; andsaid at least one second region is a multiplicity of second regions with identical tone values.
3. The process control strip according to claim 2, wherein said first and second regions have a substantially rectangular or square structure.
4. The process control strip according to claim 1, wherein:
said first region is constructed as a first strip extending in a direction of a greater extent of said process control strip and having a tone value wedge with reference tone values changing in said strip direction; andsaid second region is constructed as a second strip running parallel to said first strip.
5. The process control strip according to claim 1, wherein said at least one first region and said at least one second region engage in one another at least regionally.
6. The process control strip according to claim 1, wherein said lines of said line raster are oriented in a preferential direction, and said lines enclose, at least regionally, an angle alpha relative to said preferential direction being different from zero.
7. The process control strip according to claim 6, wherein said lines have a substantially sinusoidal course.
8. The process control strip according to claim 6, wherein said lines have a substantially zigzag-shaped course.
9. The process control strip according to claim 6, wherein said angle alpha between substantially straight segments of said lines is about 45 degrees.
10. The process control strip according to claim 7, wherein said angle alpha between substantially straight segments of said lines is about 45 degrees.
11. The process control strip according to claim 8, wherein said angle alpha between substantially straight segments of said lines is about 45 degrees.
12. The process control strip according to claim 6, wherein said first and second regions have a common contact surface, and said preferential direction of said lines is substantially perpendicular to said common contact surface.
13. The process control strip according to claim 7, wherein said first and second regions have a common contact surface, and said preferential direction of said lines is substantially perpendicular to said common contact surface.
14. The process control strip according to claim 8, wherein said first and second regions have a common contact surface, and said preferential direction of said lines is substantially perpendicular to said common contact surface.
15. The process control strip according to claim 9, wherein said first and second regions have a common contact surface, and said preferential direction of said lines is substantially perpendicular to said common contact surface.
16. The process control strip according to claim 10, wherein said first and second regions have a common contact surface, and said preferential direction of said lines is substantially perpendicular to said common contact surface.
17. The process control strip according to claim 11, wherein said first and second regions have a common contact surface, and said preferential direction of said lines is substantially perpendicular to said common contact surface.
18. A method for exposing a process control strip, the method comprising the following steps:
providing the process control strip according to claim 1; andexposing the process control strip in dots and lines directly onto a printing plate.
19. The method according to claim 18, which further comprises carrying out the exposure of the process control strip simultaneously with the dot and line exposure of the printing plate.
20. The method according to claim 18, which further comprises, during the dot and line exposure of the printing plate, orienting the process control strip with a preferential direction of the lines of the line raster in the first region extending in the line direction.
21. The method according to claim 19, which further comprises, during the dot and line exposure of the printing plate, orienting the process control strip with a preferential direction of the lines of the line raster in the first region extending in the line direction.
22. The method according to claim 18, which further comprises, during dot and line exposure of the printing plate, orienting the process control strip with a preferential direction of the lines of the line raster in the first region extending perpendicularly to the line direction.
23. The method according to claim 19, which further comprises, during dot and line exposure of the printing plate, orienting the process control strip with a preferential direction of the lines of the line raster in the first region extending perpendicularly to the line direction.
Patent Application
20070211271
