A Study of Photocopier Distortion Through Interactive Animations

This paper explores the nature of distortions introduced by the photocopying process. Two types of pens were used to execute both a fast and a slow sample of handwriting. These were then reproduced on photocopiers of various makes and models, both analog and digital. Successive copies were created from each sample, extending twenty generations from the original. The copying process was repeated for each series using the photocopier’s light, medium and dark settings. Overall, the combination of writing instrument and speed together with photocopier model and darkness settings yielded eightyfour permutations. The resulting 1680 images (84 permutations x 20 generations) were then integrated into an interactive graphic interface allowing the user to select a set of parameters and explore the distortion, moving back and forth through the twenty generations at will. Trends in the observed distortions were investigated, both at a localized level and across the page as a whole.
Copiers were found to create both distortions (changes in shape and/or size) and image degradation (breakup, thinning, thickening, etc.). The extent of these effects varied between machines and also showed differences across the platen area of single machines (e.g. enlarge in one area while reducing in another). Breakup was found to be more pronounced in areas of the image that are perpendicular to the paper feed direction (i.e. horizontal lines breakup faster than vertical lines when the paper feed direction is along the vertical axis of the page). Given the limited sample size, findings are presented qualitatively, as well as in the graphical interface itself.