Method and device for calibrating an imaging apparatus having multiple imaging outputs

An imaging apparatus for forming a calibrated output image on an imaging element according to a page description language, the imaging system comprising:

• a raster image processor (RIP) for receiving image data characterized by a page description language and generating raster data based on the image data;
• and
• a recorder receiving the raster data generated by the RIP, the recorder comprising:
• a plurality of adjacent imaging outputs, each imaging output imaging a corresponding region of an imaging element;
• an input for measuring an optical property of the imaging element and
• a controller coupled to the imaging outputs and the input, wherein the controller commands each imaging output to form at least one corresponding image region on the imaging element, and further wherein the controller commands the input to measure an optical property for each of the formed image regions, wherein the controller adjust at least one of the imaging outputs as a function of the measured optical properties for the image regions formed by the other imaging outputs to reduce variations between the adjacent imaging outputs.

A method for calibrating an imaging system having M adjacent outputs, each output imaging a corresponding portion of an imaging element, the method comprising:

• forming M test patterns on the imaging element with the M outputs, wherein each test pattern has N image regions formed by a different one of the imaging outputs of the imaging system;
• measuring an optical property for each of the N image regions of the M test patterns;
• generating N response curves as a function of the image regions that have substantially equal measured optical properties and are formed by different outputs;
• and
• adjusting at least one of the outputs as a function of the generated response curves to reduce variations between the adjacent imaging outputs.