title: Suitability of the general-purpose graphic printer as an image output device for digital dental x-ray images.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the suitability of the general-purpose graphic printer as an image output device for digital dental x-ray images.
  
  
  METHODS
  The image quality as obtained by a thermal printer and by a dye sublimation printer was investigated. A grid pattern image was used to check parallelism and verticality of lines in each hard copy. A step-wedge image was printed with each printer, and the optical density, gradient, and root mean square granularity were compared. Depiction ability was also compared by using test images, including small signals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All of the lines were parallel and vertical on hard copies of both printers. The dye sublimation printer showed better results on optical density, gradient, root mean square granularity, and depiction ability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The dye sublimation printer produces images of the depiction ability comparable to the cathode ray tube display and seems suitable as an image output device for digital dental x-ray images.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology, Tokyo Dental College, Chiba, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nishikawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wakoh
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kuroyanagi
mesh_terms: D004396:Coloring Agents; D003196:Computer Graphics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016287:Computer Peripherals; D003626:Data Display; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D055095:Optics and Photonics / Q000295:instrumentation; D011327:Printing / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000295:instrumentation; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents