A computer-implemented method for characterizing a fluid injector, comprising: receiving a collection of data representative of a plurality of electrical waveforms, wherein the plurality of electrical waveforms are current waveforms of the fluid injector, each waveform corresponding to a selected magnitude of electrical excitation provided to an actuator of a fluid injector; identifying a pull locus, based on the collection of data, wherein the pull locus includes a collection of points at which fluid injection starts after movement of the valve; determining a detection threshold level value, based on the collection of data; identifying a first subset of the collection of data representative of a selected first electrical waveform of the plurality of electrical waveforms, based on the detection threshold level value and the collection of data; identifying a representative opening value, based on the collection of data, wherein the representative opening value is a value at which the valve opens in a current waveform that corresponds to the minimum pull needed to open the valve; identifying a representative closing value, based on the representative opening value and the collection of data, wherein the representative closing value is a value at which the valve closes in a current waveform that corresponds to a maximum pull, wherein currents in excess of the current waveform that corresponds to a maximum pull do not open the valve any faster; identifying an anchor value, based on the collection of data and the first subset, wherein the anchor value represents an ideal time to valve opening after power is applied; identifying a second subset of the collection of data, representative of a selected second electrical waveform of the plurality of electrical waveforms, based on the collection of data, the pull locus, the first subset, and the representative opening value; identifying a maximum electrical value, based on the second subset; identifying an opening locus based the collection of data, the anchor value, and the maximum electrical value, wherein the opening locus includes a collection of points at which the valve is fully open; identifying a hold value based on the collection of data; providing characteristics associated with the fluid injector comprising the pull locus, the opening locus, the hold value, the anchor value, the representative closing value; and actuating an actuator of the fluid injector with a solenoid actuation waveform based on the representative opening value associated with the fluid injector. receiving a collection of data representative of a plurality of electrical waveforms, wherein the plurality of electrical waveforms are current waveforms of the fluid injector, each waveform corresponding to a selected magnitude of electrical excitation provided to an actuator of a fluid injector; identifying a pull locus, based on the collection of data, wherein the pull locus includes a collection of points at which fluid injection starts after movement of the valve; determining a detection threshold level value, based on the collection of data; identifying a first subset of the collection of data representative of a selected first electrical waveform of the plurality of electrical waveforms, based on the detection threshold level value and the collection of data; identifying a representative opening value, based on the collection of data, wherein the representative opening value is a value at which the valve opens in a current waveform that corresponds to the minimum pull needed to open the valve; identifying a representative closing value, based on the representative opening value and the collection of data, wherein the representative closing value is a value at which the valve closes in a current waveform that corresponds to a maximum pull, wherein currents in excess of the current waveform that corresponds to a maximum pull do not open the valve any faster; identifying an anchor value, based on the collection of data and the first subset, wherein the anchor value represents an ideal time to valve opening after power is applied; identifying a second subset of the collection of data, representative of a selected second electrical waveform of the plurality of electrical waveforms, based on the collection of data, the pull locus, the first subset, and the representative opening value; identifying a maximum electrical value, based on the second subset; identifying an opening locus based the collection of data, the anchor value, and the maximum electrical value, wherein the opening locus includes a collection of points at which the valve is fully open; identifying a hold value based on the collection of data; providing characteristics associated with the fluid injector comprising the pull locus, the opening locus, the hold value, the anchor value, the representative closing value; and actuating an actuator of the fluid injector with a solenoid actuation waveform based on the representative opening value associated with the fluid injector.