What are color measuring instruments?

Two types of instruments are used for the measurement of color:

1. Tristimulus Colorimeters

2. Spectrophotometers

Tristimulus Colorimeters:

Uses:

Tristimulus colorimeters supply numerical data representing absolute value, and color difference between a reference sample and a sample to be tested. They are used mainly in quality control, to determine conformity to standards compatibility with specified tolerances.

Working:

Light is shone onto the object and part of the reflected light is collected, analyzed and the intensity recorded.

Advantages:

·        Short measuring time

·        Easy to use

·        Relatively low cost

Spectrophotometers:

Uses:

Spectrophotometers are at the center of any modern color formulation, color production or color quality control system.

They are designed specifically for the measurement of colored material. They measure the photometric characteristics of the material in the visible spectrum and produce spectral graphs of the samples they are also able to determine the appearance of samples under different illuminants, and can therefore calculate mesmerism.

Working:

Light is shone onto the object and part of the reflected light is collected, analyzed and intensity recorded. However, in reflectance spectrophotometers, the intensity of the reflected light is measured at a series of discrete wavelengths spaced at 5, 10 or 20 nm throughout the visible spectrum (usually 380 to 730 nm or 400 to 700 nm).

Advantages:

·        High degree of accuracy

·        Multiple parameters can be measured at the same time

Reference : www.coatsindustrial.com