How to establish color standards, improve product appearance, color quality control, and computer color matching?Here we have to mention a color detection tool – the color meter.
At present, there are many kinds, brands and businesses of color measuring instruments. Some customers are not familiar with color measuring. In the face of various kinds of instruments, will there be a big price gap and different measurement results?Why are some called chromatic aberration instruments, and some called spectrophotometers?What are the differences between these instruments and what are they used for?
Now let’s have a detailed introduction:
1, what is called “color difference meter”, what is called “spectrophotometer”
As the name implies, the color difference meter is used to measure the color difference between two samples.Accuracy is lower, generally can’t accurate color color coordinate space is given the absolute value of (L, a, b value), but can give between these two samples (usually) between standard and sample color difference (Δ E), the absolute value of the chromatic meter without color data, there is no way for data exchange with others, also can’t build and manage their own colour standard database.
Colorimeter
The spectrometer has high accuracy and uses the preset position plate, which eliminates the need to use standard blackboard and whiteboard in the calibration process of traditional chromameter and chromameter.The built-in software is powerful and contains all the necessary color equations, standard light sources suitable for different tasks, and a large number of indicators for specific industries and applications.
Spectrophotometer
2. Design principle
The spectrometer is designed according to the principle of the spectrometer, while the ordinary chromometer is designed according to the principle of the tri-stimulus type.The separators offer high precision and increasing versatility.Color spectrometers can simultaneously measure SCI (a method of measurement that includes specular reflection).For this reason, it reduces the impact of the sample surface, especially suitable for color quality monitoring and computer color matching) and SCE (a measurement method that excludes specular reflection).The results of this type of measurement are similar to those observed by the naked eye.Because it can measure reflectivity at each wavelength, it is suitable for complex color analysis, and of course relatively expensive.Three stimulus value chromometer has relatively low price, small shape, outstanding flexibility and simple operation characteristics.
3. Principle of measurement
The color difference meter can automatically compare the color difference between the sample and the tested product, output CIE L, A, B data and △E, △L, △ A, and △ B color difference data after color comparison.Unlike a simple chromometer, a spectrophotometer can measure the “reflectance curve” of each color point (the wavelength interval of 10nm or 20nm), whereas a chromometer cannot.Spectrophotometers can simulate many kinds of light sources, while chromometer generally only has one or two kinds of light sources.
4, the light source
When choosing a light source in a color measuring instrument, the first considerations should be stability, directional property of the light source, life and the effectiveness of the obtained spectral curve.At present, the use of LED lamp and xenon lamp two kinds of light source.
Xenon lamps are mainly used for uv light source measurement. They can emit brief arc of high intensity, but it is difficult to produce repeated arc of equal intensity.In addition, xenon lamp light source needs more complex high-voltage shock excitation circuit, maintenance is also very complex, in the replacement, in addition to the replacement of the bulb, but also to replace the whole group of capacitance, so the price is more expensive.
LED lamps are technically and economically appropriate for current standard color measuring instruments.Portable instruments, in particular, need to be light, power – saving, easy to maintain and operate.Color spectrum measuring instrument adopts long life CLEDs(full band balanced Led light source), there is no need to change the light source frequently.
In general, chromometer is mainly used to measure color difference between samples by contrast.Spectrophotometers contain all the necessary color equations, standard light sources suitable for different tasks, and a large number of indicators for specific industries and applications, especially for color quality control and computer color matching.Sufficient to achieve color measurement in almost all application areas of quality control.