Colour Measurement Equipment

Colour Measurement Equipment

Various types of measurement instruments are used for objectively measuring and recording colour. The choice between a colorimeter or spectrophotometer depends on the required accuracy, material type and application within quality control or production.

SNKI supports organizations in selecting, implementing and validating colour measurement equipment.

Which colour meter do I need?

Determining the right instrument depends on the required accuracy and process requirements.

Colorimeter

A colorimeter measures colour based on three channels (RGB filtering).

Suitable for:

• basic colour comparisons
• quick on-site measurements
• simple quality control
• applications with low tolerances

Limitations:

• limited spectral accuracy
• not usable for formulation development
• sensitive to lighting conditions

Spectrophotometer

A spectrophotometer records the full reflectance spectrum from 380–750 nm and converts it to colour models such as CIELAB.

Applications:

• industrial quality control
• batch comparison and ΔE analysis
• formulation matching
• metamerism detection
• pharmaceutical, food, plastics, textile and coatings sectors

Advantages:

• high reproducibility
• suitable for ISO standardization
• essential input for formulation software

For professional colour control, a spectrophotometer is typically the right choice.

Spectrophotometer measurement geometries

Spectrophotometers are available in different geometries depending on material type and application:

• 45°/0° or 0°/45° – for visual assessment of matte and semi-matte surfaces
• d/8 geometry – for versatile measurement including SCI/SCE
• Multi-angle – for metallic, pearlescent and effect pigments

SNKI advises on the appropriate measurement geometry based on product, industry and tolerances.

Applications of colour measurement equipment

Spectrophotometers are used for:

• quality control of production batches
• colour matching and formulation development
• incoming inspection of raw materials
• research into aging and colour change
• supplier validation within a supply chain
• detection of inconsistent pigment dispersion

Validation and testing of colour measurement equipment

For reliable measurements, instruments must be periodically validated.

This is mandatory within many quality and laboratory standards, including:

• ISO 17025 (competence of testing and calibration laboratories)
• Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)
• ISO and CIE guidelines for colour measurement

Importance of validation

• confirms that the instrument performs within specification
• detects deviations due to wear or contamination
• documents traceability in audits
• prevents incorrect batch decisions

SNKI validation services

SNKI performs independent validation and control on:

• spectrophotometers
• colorimeters
• reference standards
• measurement methods and procedures

SNKI provides support in establishing measurement protocols, QC procedures and validation schedules.

Implementation advice

Choosing the right colour meter depends on:

• material (textile, plastic, coating, food, paper)
• required tolerance fields
• measurement geometry (45/0, d/8, multi-angle)
• workflow (laboratory, production, incoming inspection)
• software and data processing

SNKI provides independent advice and helps organizations select an instrument that matches their process and quality objectives.

Who is colour measurement equipment suitable for?

QC departments

Quality control laboratories that need to monitor batch-to-batch colour differences and maintain tolerances according to ISO standards.

Production management

Operations managers performing incoming inspection and final product control on colour-critical products to prevent faulty batches.

R&D and formulation

Developers performing formulation development and colour matching for coatings, plastics, textiles, cosmetics and food products.

Supply chain and procurement

Buyers who need to validate suppliers on colour consistency and specification compliance across multiple production locations.

Contact

For support with selection, validation or implementation of colour measurement equipment:

Nederlands Kleur Instituut info@kleurinstituut.nl +31 (75) 6169977

Our specialists advise you on the optimal colour measurement solution for your specific application and quality requirements.