RIT Inkjet and Laser Printing Media Certification

RIT Inkjet and Laser Printing Media Certification is a plain-paper color performance standard.

Paper qualified with the RIT Inkjet and Laser Printing Media Certification produces superior quality digital prints. The RIT Inkjet and Laser Printing Media Certification applies to plain-paper output from inkjet and laser printers, as well as common copy machines. RIT Inkjet and Laser Printing Media Certification designated paper provide consistent and reliable printing regardless of which machine is used within an office environment.

 

ColorLok® Paper Qualification Request Form

Ship paper to

Rochester Institute of Technology
Printing Applications Laboratory
Building #78, Dock #3, Room #1425
Attn: Michael Leaty / Paper Qualification Testing Program
66 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623
585-475-7427

*Material originating from outside the U.S. must include an original commercial invoice and/or a bill of lading. This will help ensure that the material clears customs in a timely manner, thereby reducing shipping delays.

Qualification Process

  • Step 1: Complete and submit a paper qualification testing program request form.
  • Step 2: Review a price quote from RIT for the qualification testing.
  • Step 3: Approve or reject the price quote from RIT.

Sample Qualification Submission Walk-through

  1. Paper Company X provides qualification paper sample to RIT from every paper machine that needs to be qualified.
  2. Paper Company X delivers two cartons of paper to RIT: one carton of sample paper from the beginning of the production run and another from the end of the production run. Each carton is clearly labeled according to the run and equipment used.
  3. Paper Company X ships the sample paper cartons to:

    Rochester Institute of Technology
    Printing Applications Laboratory
    Building 78, Dock #3, Room 1425
    Attn: Michael Leaty / Inkjet and Laser Qualification Program
    66 Lomb Memorial Drive
    Rochester, NY 14623
    585-475-7427
  4. Paper Company X is notified when the samples arrive at the RIT lab and is given the testing schedule. When testing has been completed, RIT provides a pass/fail report to Paper Company X.
  5. Each of Paper Company X’s paper machines will be qualified using the highest whiteness or brightness paper produced on that paper machine. By qualifying the highest whiteness C/2 or highest brightness (GE/TAPPI or ISO) paper, all other lower whiteness and brightness papers produced in the same paper machine will be qualified automatically. (Note: Every conversion unit must be qualified in the case that Paper Company X uses more than one conversion unit to finish the paper product.)

Qualification Tests

Physical properties applicable for performance on both inkjet and laser technologies

  • basis weight
  • coefficient of friction
  • moisture content
  • stiffness
  • edge-cut quality
  • pre-print curl

Inkjet-specific performance

  • dot gain
  • print density
  • dry time
  • edge acuity

Laser-specific performance

  • smoothness
  • electrical surface resistivity
  • filler-particle size
  • wax pick

Test Duration

It will take approximately four weeks after paper samples are received to provide results.

Test Specifications and Logo Use

  • Tests and pass/fail criteria are developed by RIT.
  • Once a paper sample passes all tests, the manufacturer will be issued a RIT Inkjet and Laser Printing Media Report and Certificate.

Confidentiality

RIT will not share your company name or testing results unless you give permission to do so.

Fees

The cost of the qualification is the responsibility of the requesting paper company and must be paid to RIT in advance of testing.