Barbara Blaznik

In the complex process of recalling a distinct colour, memory plays a crucial role. The accuracy of recall is particularly important in some cases, for example when recognising the colour of food, as it communicates information about its freshness, taste and ripeness. Food manufacturers establish their first contact with consumers through various forms of advertising. To attract attention and encourage purchase, the colour of food must be carefully selected and depicted. This process relies on memory colours for different groups of fruit and vegetables, i.e. the colours of well-known and frequently seen objects. In 2024, a new Preferred Memory Colour (PMC) chart was published, which contains the memory colours of selected objects and foods and enables accurate colour reproduction. The purpose of the present research was to investigate the influence of the mode of colour presentation on the observer's ability to recall a colour sample, namely the colour of fruit or vegetables. In the experiment, three different ways of presenting the colour were used. The experiment took place in a controlled environment under constant observation conditions. The colour vision of the observers was previously checked with the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue test. The test charts were prepared based on the preferred colours of selected foods, and the results were numerically evaluated using the parameters of the CIELAB colour space. The results showed that the accuracy of colour recall is greatly improved with additional directed instruction, due to subconscious associations with a specific object. In addition, it emerged that some food colours are remembered more accurately than others.

This study investigated how congruence between pictogram complexity and typographic complexity influences visual processing and perceived appropriateness in multimodal communication. Drawing on theories of visual communication, legibility and aesthetic perception, the study examined whether simple or complex pictograms harmonise more effectively with sans-serif or serif typefaces. Ninety participants viewed stimuli from three thematic categories (cobbler, herbal pharmacy and gluten-free restaurant), while their eye movements were recorded using a Tobii Pro Fusion eye-tracking device. Measures included reading time, fixation count and saccade count, together with subjective evaluations of pictogram–typeface suitability. The results show that reading time was the most sensitive indicator of formal congruence. In the cobbler and gluten-free restaurant categories, simple pictograms increased reading time with sans-serif typography but decreased it with serif typography. In the herbal pharmacy category, simple pictograms and sans-serif typography independently supported faster reading performance. Subjective evaluations showed no significant differences between combinations, indicating that participants perceived all pairings as similarly appropriate despite measurable differences in processing efficiency. The findings suggest that the effectiveness of pictogram–typeface combinations depends on both formal complexity and thematic context. Eye-tracking proved valuable for revealing subtle cognitive processing differences not reflected in subjective judgements.

Reading is a fundamental process and enhancing legibility is crucial for improving the reading experience. There is a growing interest in improving legibility, with new applications such as bionic reading. To investigate the legibility of texts in the bionic format, we tested two groups of participants, that is, younger readers (students) and older readers (middle-aged). Two widely used typefaces designed for on-screen reading were used to assess legibility, that is, the transitional typeface Georgia and the sans-serif typeface Verdana. The reading was tested with an eye-movement tracking device. Bionic reading was developed for on-screen reading; however, we were interested in whether it could also be used as a print typeface on paper. The results showed that bionic reading affects the reading time, that is, the reading time is longer. In addition, the Verdana typeface is faster to read than the Georgia typeface. Moreover, it was found that there is no advantage to using bionic reading for texts on paper. Older readers read faster on any medium and in both typefaces in the non-bionic and bionic format. It cannot be stated with certainty whether bionic reading is favourable or not, as the results of comprehension and memorisation do not suggest that they are affected in the same way. Further extensive testing is required. We propose extensive testing with different typefaces and type sizes, including people with dyslexia and ADHD, especially with younger readers to refine the bionic reading applications and understand their impact on enhancing the reading experience.

During the lifespan, graphic products are exposed to various external factors. During their use, their properties(physical, mechanical, visual, etc.) change to a greater or lesser extent. It is necessary to observe/monitor changesand influence of external factors on their properties as soon as the product is created. The aim of this research is toexamine the impact of the aging process on the quality of inkjet printing. A different number of layers of black ink (in10 % tonal value (TV) and 100 % TV) and a different number of varnish layers were printed on PVC foil material. The samples were exposed to xenon light (λ > 300 nm) to accelerate the ageing process over a period of 72 and 216 h. They were measured by Datacolor spectrophotometer. As expected, with longer exposure time, greater changes occurred. According to the CIE ΔE*00 formula, the differences ranged from an imperceptible to a large colour change. After 72 h, the biggest changes in colour occurred in the K10 % with one ink layer and three layers of varnish. The smallest changes were in K100 % with one ink layer and no varnish. After 216 h, the greatest changes were observed in the K10 % sample with three layers of ink and two layers of varnish. The smallest differences were K10 % sample with one ink layer and without varnish.

The durability of the materials is often limited as they fade under the influence of external factors, particularly light. The present research aimed to study the photodegradation of commercial inkjet inks in an aqueous solution. The results were compared with their stability on prints in order to establish the connection between the kinetics of photodegradation of dye in the solution and the durability of the final print. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC), chromatography with a mass selective detector (GC/MS), and spectrophotometric measurements were used to study the effect of light, including near UV. The results clearly show that the catalytic effect between different dyes cannot be avoided, as the inks for inkjet printing are usually a mixture of different colorants. A comparison of the results of photodegradation of the dye in solution and on the final prints does not show a direct connection due to the different influences of external factors. Consequently, it was established that it is not possible to predict the photodegradation of prints solely based on a single dye’s analysis in solution. The paper as a substrate must be included in the analysis, as it significantly influences the photodegradation of the print.

Many songbooks today are the work of a single author or contain a collection of songs by different artists, groups or singers from one or more genres. However, a scout songbook is always a collection of songs for singing, usually with additional sheet music or chord symbols. The need arose to create a new scout songbook that would improve on the existing songbook “Strune do lune” (“Strings to the Moon”) in terms of content and design. The redesign of the existing songbook required an analysis of songbooks with a similar structure and, above all, a thorough analysis of the existing scout songbook from which we started. Therefore, in the experimental part, we analysed and thoroughly reviewed ten songbooks that are structurally similar to the original songbook. We analysed various criteria (format size and layout, fonts for the main text, titles and subtitles, size and spacing between text lines for the main text, x-height, special features in chorus notation, layout and categorisation of songs according to a theme, illustrations, cover design, binding method of the songbooks and certain special features such as split text verses on the other side of the page) that significantly influence the usability and visual appearance of the songbook. Based on detailed analyses and comparisons, we established sensible starting points for the design. Based on these starting points, we designed a new songbook entitled “Melodije do galaksije” (“Melodies to the Galaxy”) and confirmed that analysing existing songbooks is crucial for the design of a new songbook.

When studying the process of photodegradation, we often deal with the durability of the individual ink colour components, the durability of the printing material or the durability of the ink on the printing material. Less frequently, ink degradation in the solution is compared to the print. However, it is essential to consider all the crucial external and internal factors that influence the photodegradation process in the context of the durability of printed materials. When studying photodegradation, external factors such as light, temperature and humidity are relatively easy to control. On the other hand, the control of internal factors in the photodegradation process is much more complex since the internal factors are related to the composition of the ink used, the substrate and the physical and chemical processes between them. The study aims to analyse the complex degradation process of prints made with an ink-jet printer compared to the degradation of the same inks in an aqueous solution. The study included two types of paper and an ink-jet printer using dye-based inks. A high-pressure mercury lamp was used to irradiate and accelerate the degradation process, and a specially adapted reactor was used to irradiate solutions and prints. The results showed how short-wave UV radiation significantly influences the changes of the printing material, ink and prints. In some cases, the difference between the ink stability in solution and ink stability on the printing material can be observed. The effect of paper on the durability of the print is, however, negligible in the case of short-wave UV radiation. The process of photodegradation of the paper under UV radiation was mainly manifested by the loss of specific surface and optical properties.

Photodegradation of the ink‐jet prints is a complex process in which many external and internal factors are involved. Nevertheless, the role of colorants and various accompanying substances in the ink is often overlooked. Our research work aimed to determine the fastness of water‐based ink‐jet inks in aqueous solutions. A printing ink often contains a complex mixture of colorants to achieve optimal optical properties of color and a suitable fastness of the print. Therefore, we investigated the composition and stability of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks under the influence of UVC light in the presence of oxygen as well as in an inert environment based on TLC chromatography and spectrophotometric analysis. The process of photodegradation was evaluated based on ink amount and half‐life. According to the results, the majority of inks consist of at least two colorants that differ in color and polarity. The results have shown that the presence of oxygen negatively affects the stability of inks; therefore, the inert atmosphere prolongs the durability of ink in water solution.

Three frequently used formulas and their power function modifications were used to calculate the colour differences after the exposure to light and to study the stability of ink jet prints by spectrophotometric measurements. The prints...