A method for identifying transfer efficiency in a xerographic print engine utilizes customer images, thereby avoiding the use of specialized images and the corresponding loss of productivity and paper waste. The method includes electronically sensing a two-dimensional residual mass structure on a substantial portion of a substrate surface within the xerographic print engine after image transfer, analyzing the two-dimensional structure using signal and/or image processing techniques, and determining the transfer efficiency, based on the sensed two-dimensional residual mass structure by applying the following functional equation form or variant: sensor_response=[(1−Mxfer—efficiency)*MpixelCnt]+[(1−Yxfer—efficiency)*YpixelCnt]+[(1−Cxfer—efficiency)*CpixelCnt]+[(1−Kxfer—efficiency)*KpixelCnt].