Computer vision based offset error computation for web printing machines using FPGA

Abstract

The use of computer vision based approach has started to bring the intelligence to many of the modern machineries. Such kind of high performance image processing systems can be efficiently built using Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs). This paper presents the design and implementation of FPGA based Computer Vision System for offset error computation of a new proposed registration mark pattern in 4-color web offset printing machines. The color printing quality of offset machine degrades due to a genuine problem of registration error caused by improper alignment of the prints from each process color section. This system can be used in an automated registration control system for web printing press that will control the position of each of CMYK cylinders depending on offset error calculated which will improve printing quality.