Digital Quality Tool for Terrific
Prints

The Digital Quality Tool (DQ Tool) was developed by leading manufacturers and providers of digital imaging services an in initiative of CIPHO and the German Photographic Industry Association (Photoindustrie-Verband e.V.). It provides a simple and quick method for private users who wish to edit digital photos on their computers to achieve a more uniform print quality. This is done by adjusting the monitor to match a reference print. Information on optimization is available in apdf file.

Digital photography is becoming increasingly popular. As more and more digital cameras are sold, there is a growing need to be able to produce high quality prints. However, the colors and densities of the prints are sometimes different from those the photographer saw on his monitor. Often the user does not have the practical knowledge to arrive at the optimum set up of his PC for image editing.

The purpose of the Digital Quality Tool (DQ Tool) is to help private users who wish to edit digital photos on their computers to optimize their monitors for image editing and to prepare the digital photos for printing at the laboratory. It contains a CD with reference files, as well as detailed instructions and a reference print on traditional photographic paper.

The DQ Tool is based on a purely visual assessment and does not require expensive, complicated color management systems, which means it can be used by anyone.
(Of course, it cannot take the place of professional color management systems, which must be used when a very high color accuracy is required.


Why the DQ Tool is necessary

If optimum prints are to be made from digital image files, the image reproduction characteristics of the photographic laboratory's printer and the user's monitor must be matched. Often, however, when people edit digital images at home, the monitor is incorrectly adjusted. The result is an incorrect assessment of color, density and gradation, and incorrect editing of the image. And consequently, the colors and densities of the prints from the photographic laboratory will be different from what the user saw on his monitor.

With the aid of the DQ Tool, brightness, contrast and color reproduction of a monitor can be matched to the characteristics of the printer at the laboratory.


Optimization in several steps

The tool takes the user through the optimization step by step. All the information required is contained in pdf format on the CD. If necessary, Acrobat Reader, which is needed for opening the pdf files, will be automatically installed. Then optimization can begin.

First, with the aid of a special test image file, the brightness and contrast settings are optimized. Then the color temperature is checked and, if possible, set to a standard value. Next, the graphics card settings are checked and corrected as necessary. The DQ Tool describes how the adjustments should be made. The basic settings are then complete. In the next step, the user loads the reference file, which is used for adjusting the color settings of the monitor, in his image editing program. The reference image comprises four pictures for visually matching the characteristics of the monitor to those of the printer at the photographic laboratory.


DQ reference image

The user compares the reference image on the monitor with the reference print on photographic paper. The instructions explain which feature is emphasized in each picture. By adjustment of the monitor with the appropriate monitor controls (usually on screen menus), the monitor image is matched as closely as possible to the print. The important thing is that the file is not changed, only its reproduction on the monitor!

After fine adjustment of the colors has been performed, the user can be certain that what he sees on the monitor will be substantially the same as the print made later at the photographic laboratory. A 100% match is not possible because of the differences in color reproduction by monitor and printer. The reference print should, however, give the user a very good idea of the discrepancies.

To ensure that this is the case, the reference print is produced by the photographic laboratory that will later make prints of the digital photos. As the results of the printing process can differ in color and brightness depending on the photo printer used, it is essential to use the DQ Tool from the photo retailer who will later make the prints. Use of a reference photo from another laboratory can lead to poor results. .


Background knowledge and glossary

For people who are interested in technical matters, the CD includes detailed background information and a comprehensive glossary that explains many terms connected with digital image editing.

The tool is available as a set from specialist retailers for 5 euros. It contains pdf documents and image files and can be used with all current Windows versions. The Digital Quality Tool is supplied to photo retailers by the companies participating in the initiative.



Further information

For further information, you can also download the DQ Tool files listed below (to "save", please press the right mouse button and select the command "Save Target As").

Please note that for correct adjustment of your monitor you will need a reference print from the laboratory used by your photo retailer.

 • DQ Tool information file on the adjustment procedure (DICTInfo_E.pdf; 816 KB)

 • Contrast file for coarse setting of monitor brightness and contrast
(Kontrast.jpg; 98 KB)

 • Monitor reference image file for fine adjustment of the monitor (Monitor.jpg; 625 KB)
The file is used only for matching the monitor image to the reference print; it is
not suitable for making a print.

DQ-Tool German/English version 3.0

An English/German version of the DQ-Tool is also available. In professional image editing the DQ reference print has proved to be a very good means for testing and visualizing the quality of images. Several reference image files have been added to meet professional requirements.