1. A method for simulating a reference bitmap image, the method comprising: defining a plurality of reference bitmap image characteristics using a set of user-input parameters; computing a scaling factor based at least in part on a comparison of at least one characteristic within the plurality of reference bitmap image characteristics and at least one dot-pattern bitmap characteristic; generating an initialized reference bitmap image based on the plurality of reference bitmap image characteristics and the scaling factor; mapping a dot-pattern image within the initialized reference bitmap image that results in the reference bitmap image; and smoothing at least one edge and at least one color intensity within the reference bitmap image.