Application of moiré technique to the measurement of modulation transfer functions (MTF) of printing systems

It is shown theoretically and verified experimentally that by writing a low spatial frequency Ronchi grating by a computer and printing two copies of it on two transparencies by a printer, the modulation transfer function (MTF) of the printed image can be evaluated by measuring the transmittance of the superimposed gratings in a moiré fringe spacing. Application of the technique is quite simple and the results are reasonably reproducible. The technique does not require a high sensitive intensity detector and a very narrow slit for transmission scanning. Also, the presented technique can be applied to other imaging systems.