A system for activating automated image quality diagnostic systems via a direct communication from the image-based control system is disclosed. The system includes a printing engine configured to intake electronic image input and to output tangible image output based on the electronic image input, an image-based measurement system configured to make measurements of image parameters associated with the tangible image output, and an automated compensation system configured to store nominal value parametric measurements for one or more image parameters measured by the image-based measurement system and to compare the nominal value measurements to related one or more parameters measured to determine anomalies in the output tangible image system.