Microspectrometer technology for colour control

Microspectrometer technology for colour control

Microspectrometer technology for colour control

Keywords: Tintometer, Colour, Quality control, Measurement

The Lovibond range of colour measuring instruments now includes two new reflectance calorimeters, which are said to give spectral data for quality control of product colour. The Lovibond RT100 (Plate 6) consists of a compact, hand-held spectrometer unit with an integrated measuring head (45°/0° measuring geometry) for precision colour measurement and control of regular surfaces. The Lovibond RT200 includes a similar spectrometer unit but is supplied with a flexible, fibre-optic measuring head (0°/0° measuring geometry) for colour measurement of small areas, challenging shapes or relatively inaccessible places.

Plate 6 Lovibond RT100 Reflectance Tintometer

The RT100 and RT200 is described as combining advanced microspectrometer technology with the computing power of a PC. The spectrometer units link to a standard PC computer with Lovibond RT Colour Measurement System software installed for instrument operation and for presentation, analysis and logging of reflectance data. Results can be expressed in a choice of colour values and colour difference measurements: X Y Z tristimulus values, CIE L*a*b*, CIE x y Y, CIE L'u'v', CIE L*C*h*, Whiteness Index, Yellowness Index, E, L*, a*, b*, C*, h* colour differences, reflectance, metameric index.

The software, which works under MS Windows 95198/NT, displays a choice of colour spaces or reflectance curves, allows input and selection of reference values, will average multiple measurement and includes a verbal indication of colour differences. It includes the facility for data export to ASCII files and direct data export into MS Excel.

Details available from: The Tintometer Ltd. Tel: +44 1722 327242; Fax: +44 1722 412322; e-mail: sales@tintometer.com Website: www.tintometer.com