Highlight & Shadow Test Chart
Where do the lightest tints start to show, and how far into the darks can you still tell steps apart? Print a stepped CMYK test chart and check how your printer reproduces them.
- 1Choose a test
- 2Set up the chart
- 3Preview
- 4Download the CMYK PDF
- 5Print and record results
A4 Portrait · 210×297 mm · 1 page(s)
Screen colors are only a reference. Check the actual print. The preview is a simple RGB conversion of the CMYK values; the PDF keeps the CMYK values themselves.
Click a patch, or focus the preview and use the arrow keys, to see its values.
- Print at actual size (100%) with “Fit to page” turned off. The 100 mm check line at the bottom confirms the scale.
- When comparing prints, keep the printer, media, print mode and drying/finishing the same.
- The RIP's color conversion and profile settings change the result.
- Comparing real job conditions and checking how an input channel responds are different goals. Write down the color handling you used.
- Yellow and very light patches can be hard to see depending on the lighting and media.
No sign-up. The chart and the PDF are made entirely in this browser.
Results
Look at the print and note what you see for each channel. Your notes go into the results table of the next PDF you download; empty fields stay blank for handwriting.
This tool is for visual checks. Without measurement data it does not compute ΔE, ICC accuracy, quality scores or ink limits, and it does not diagnose faults.
Guide
Key points
- Prints C, M, Y and K in fine steps (e.g. 0–10% and 90–100%) so you can see where light tints appear and where darks fill in.
- Patches in the PDF are DeviceCMYK input values, not measured densities or ink amounts.
- Print at actual size (100%), and record dark results as a range such as “96–100% hard to tell apart”.
What does it check?
The palest tints (highlights) and the deepest tones (shadows) are where printers, media and settings differ first. This chart prints each of C, M, Y and K in fine steps such as 0–10% and 90–100%, so you can see on the actual print:
- the first light step where color becomes visible,
- how well neighbouring light steps can be told apart,
- how well neighbouring dark steps can be told apart, and where they fill in and lose detail,
- the difference before and after changing the printer, media, RIP, profile or print mode.
Patch values are written into the PDF as DeviceCMYK input values. They are test inputs, not the ink actually laid down or a measured optical density.
How to use it
- Pick a preset. Start with Basic check (light 0–10%, dark 90–100%, 1% steps); for more detail use the 0.5% highlight or the 80–100% shadow preset.
- Choose paper, orientation and channels; detailed settings cover ranges, patch size and job details.
- Download the PDF and print it at actual size (100%). Measure the 100 mm check line to confirm the scale.
- Once the ink is dry, look at the patches in good light and fill in the results per channel.
Reading the results
- Light: compare with the 0% reference (bare paper) and note the first value where you see color. Yellow is hard to see by nature, so try different lighting.
- Dark: rather than a single “limit”, note a range such as “96–100% hard to tell apart”.
- When comparing conditions, change one thing at a time and keep media, mode and drying the same. Write down the color handling you used so later prints can be compared.
What this chart can’t tell you
A visual check can’t give you ΔE, ICC profile accuracy or a proper ink limit, and it can’t pin down a specific fault. For that, use data measured with a spectrophotometer.
FAQ
Why does the screen preview differ from the print?
The preview is a simple RGB conversion for reference. Real colors depend on the printer, media and RIP settings, so judge from the print.
I can barely see the light yellow patches.
Yellow has little contrast against paper. Try different lighting or a low viewing angle, and compare with the 0% reference patch.
Can the results tell me my ink limit or profile quality?
No. It is a visual chart; it does not compute ΔE, ICC accuracy or ink limits. Precise judgements need measured data.