The print quality of printing on a substrate (15) (such as a business form in a moving web configuration) is determined by imaging a small L-shaped border element (16, 31, 33) in an unobtrusive area of the substrate which is indicative of the image quality of the print engine which effects the imaging. Using a high resolution electronic camera (19) and a stroboscopic light (18), electronic data about the border element is fed to a computer (12), which electronically analyzes it for print quality, including measured width, stroke reflectance/background reflectance (which can yield optical density), edge density, edge roughness, solid character fill, and background dusting in non-print areas. The print engine (11) may then be controlled in response to the quality determination. Coded information, and grid (33), may be printed within the area defined by the L-shaped border element, and the information may be obtained by scanning at another location (26).