1. A method for detecting a dot of functional material on a medium at a predetermined location, the dot having a predetermined color, wherein the method comprises the steps of: determining an environment of the predetermined location, comprising a plurality of pixels surrounding the predetermined location and including the predetermined location itself; scanning the environment resulting in scanning values for each pixel of the environment; for each pixel of the environment, establishing a value for a lightness component of a color of the pixel derived from the scanning values; for each pixel of the environment, establishing a chroma value for a chroma component of a color of the pixel derived from the scanning values; summarizing the chroma values of the pixels of the environment into a summarized chroma value for the environment; summarizing the lightness values of the pixels of the environment into a summarized lightness value for the environment; comparing the summarized chroma value to a predetermined chroma threshold value for the predetermined color of the dot; comparing the summarized lightness value to a predetermined lightness threshold value for the predetermined color of the dot; deciding whether or not the dot is present in the environment based on the steps of comparing the summarized chroma value and comparing the summarized lightness value; and for each pixel of the environment, establishing a hue value for a hue component of a color of the pixel derived from the scanning values, wherein in the step of summarizing the chroma values, only chroma values of the pixels of the environment having a hue value for the hue component of the color of the pixel within a predetermined hue angle range for the predetermined color of the dot are summarized, and wherein the dot is part of a background spit pattern designed with respect to detection of a failure of a printing element in a color image reproduction apparatus, said printing element being suitable to eject the dot.