I worked on a project like this once, and here is what I learned:
1. Test form should have ladder targets, since they are good for showing mechanical movement
2. Be careful about torquing the blankets to the recommended tension, and roll them in and check the tension again, but I bet you know this
3. Big variable is the "interference" to test at, since each manufacturer gives a range of "interference."
4. Get a high power scope to examine dots and solids, preferably a digital camera on a microscope, (think send sheets to RIT maybe.) Then you can lay pictures out side by side and compare
5. Some blankets print a better dot than a solid, look for slurred or doubled dots
6. Out of about 10 blanket suppliers, there was a range of TVI for the same ink level, paper, and plate of about 5%
7. Now you have fewer blankets to test. The list should include the following manufacturers and whatever OEM's:
Contitech, DYC Kinyo, Meiji, Reeves/Trelleborg, Day/Flint Group
8. If you are really organized and have some clout with the press manufacturers, you can get their digital register analysis targets on the test form and they can measure and show movement over 10 or 100 sheet intervals, really dial in to the dynamics of each blanket
Have fun,
John Lind
Cranberry Township, PA
724-776-4718