Method and apparatus for improving registration and skew end of line checking in production

A system for use in determining registration and/or skew errors in a print medium with respect to a printing element, the system comprising:

• a processor;
• the print medium including a two-dimensional pattern comprising a grid within a geometric shape;
• said grid having a plurality of vertical and horizontal lines, an intersection of each one of said vertical and horizontal lines forming a cross-hair defining an X-Y positional data point, a collection of said X- Y positional data points of each one of said vertical and horizontal lines of said grid defining a data set useful for correcting a registration and/or skew error between said print medium and said printing element;
• said geometric shape being in the form of a two-dimensional target having a plurality of concentric circular rings, an innermost one of said plurality of concentric circular rings forming a bulls-eye, said bulls-eye enclosing at least one of said X-Y positional data points in said data set, a center cross-hair defining an enclosed X-Y positional data point being located at or near the center of said bulls-eye;
• said printing element is for placing a marker onto said print medium for use in determining said registration and/or skew error between said print medium and said printing element;
• wherein the positional location of said marker with respect to said center cross-hair defining said at least one enclosed X-Y positional data point defines a directional displacement vector for correcting said registration and/or skew error between said print medium and said printing element;
• wherein the positional location of said marker with respect to said center cross-hair of said at least one X-Y positional data point defining said directional displacement vector is determined by the processor.