SKERIK GREY SCALE TEST

CONTRAST SENSITIVITY TEST DEVELOPED BY TWI

Background information This shall be designated as ’Skerik S3‘ in documentation.

International standards focused on inspection and non-destructive

testing require that visual acuity and colour perception of personnel
shall be periodically verified. The requirement for contrast sensitivity
in grey scale was introduced only recently.

Governing documents provide some guidance on which test shall be

used, and what the minimum requirements should be. For example,
the Jaeger test is specified to assess an individual’s near vision
acuity to a specified level of J1. For grey scale perception, there is
no defined test nor specific level. Note: Similar contrast requirements are common for verification of imaging
systems for industry. For example test SMPTE RP 133 is working with
There are a large variety of contrast sensitivity tests available for contrast of 5 % [2].
optometric purposes. Unfortunately not all are suitable for this
purpose (reason may be technical – these tests do not cover grey Printing test pattern
scale in the range used by the individual, or practical – some test
This test shall be printed on A4 paper and on a black and white
charts are dimensionally too big; in many cases the reason is
printer (or colour printer set up in black and white mode). To avoid
economical – price of original test pattern).
any disturbing effects, test pattern print shall be one sided. The set-
This has resulted in the use of numerous different tests charts and up or printer may vary significantly (resolution, quality etc). Please
as a consequence, it is hard to determine a common requirement for refer to the manufacturer’s manual).
contrast sensitivity verification (as with Jaeger J1).
Projection of test pattern on the monitor screen
The Skerik grey scale test was developed to:
1. Provide simple and small test chart for industrial use. Test pattern shall be shown on the monitor in whole (at least black
2. Provide a test which can be viewed on paper or on a monitor. grey and white line). Magnification degree shall be selected to allow
3. Allow the definition of a common requirement for contrast comfortable reading of symbols.
sensitivity.
Quality of printed as well as projected test pattern shall be verified.
4. Provide a test which will be easily available.

To fulfil point 4 considerable time was spent in preparing a test
pattern which allows the control of quality in a print or projection so
the test can be simply printed and its quality verified.
This test chart is published for use by industry; however it is to be
used only in its original state (with no modification).
How to verify the test pattern quality
Whilst printers tend to reduce contrast, monitors may enhance the
image under some circumstances. Therefore a calibration pattern is
provided and quality of representation shall be verified.
Contrast modification

How the Skerik grey scale test works Stripped pattern is provided. Contrast between strips is
continuously reduced from 6.5 to 0% with step of 0.5%. It is
The contrast sensitivity test covers the full range of grey scale. required that contrast of 2% and above shall be clearly
Considering the grey scale covers shades of grey between black and discriminated on pattern, while a contrast of less than 1% shall
white (0% to 100%) an individual’s ability to distinguish contrast is not be visible.
tested at three points (10%, 50% and 95%).
Dimensional distortion
The contrast sensitivity of human eye may be influenced by other
Reference dimension (180mm) is provided. Reduction in size is not
influences (eg detail size, shade of background or angle of view).
acceptable. Enlargement is acceptable provided that whole pattern
Therefore it is complicated to express it by single number. Some
can be observed.
literary sources provide such information [1].
The quality of test pattern shall be verified prior to use. If it is
This CSWIP test provides a scale of various contrasts labelled by
intended to use contrast sensitivity test in any protective cover (eg
symbol ’SX‘ where ’X‘ represents the contrast level against the
laminated in plastic pouches) the quality of test shall be verified in
background.
its final state – after lamination or in protective cover.
Designation S6 S5 S4 S3 S2 S1
Reading the Skerik grey scale test
Contrast level 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% 1%
Reading order shall follow columns starting with the highest
contrast. Reading distance shall not be less than 300mm. Sufficient
During the evaluation period for this grey scale test (between 2008
illumination is required (corresponding to minimal requirements for
and 2015) it was verified that the majority of healthy individuals are
the working condition).
able to distinguish contrast of 2 or 3%. Variation in achieved results
reflects not only individual’s ability but also variation in quality of [1] Kleven, S., Hyvärinen, L.: Vision Testing Requirements for Industry.
test chart representation. Materials Evaluation. Vol. 57, 1999, no. 8, 797 – 803 p.

Therefore it is recommended that a contrast sensitivity of 3% is to [2] SMPTE RP-133:1991 Specifications for Medical Diagnostic Imaging
be agreed as a minimum. Test Pattern for Television Monitors.

DATE: 06 / 10 / 2015