5. The manual tells us that eGrade provides "a short, precise grade to highlight the key measurements" calculated by EzGrader.  "An eGrade begins with the old, familiar grades" based upon centering.

These "old, familiar" — in other words, qualitative — grades are listed in the left-hand column of the following table, which is shown in the EzGrader manual and which serves as the basis for eGrade.  The middle and right columns list values for minimum and maximum centering ratings.  These numbers, while necessarily arbitrary, are nonetheless reasonable.

EzGrader then quantitatively enhances the eGrade by referring to the two centering measures, and using the lower one.  Thus, for our stamp, the vertical centering was the lower of the two (80 for the vertical, but 94 for the horizontal).  Hence, the eGrade fell into the VF category, and is more precisely listed as VF 80.  By using the lower of the two grades, EzGrader stringently rates the centering quality of a stamp.  If it had used the higher of the two grades — which would have led our stamp to be graded as XF 94 — the computer program would have applied a lenient grading system.

If one must choose between the two methods, to err on the side of caution is preferable.  That is, I appreciate the fact that EzGrader provides a stringent rating.

*                    *                    *

This concludes our summary of the first output form for EzGrader.  What remains is to discuss the perforation analysis.  For that, go on to the third and final page.

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