For industrial color measurement, either spectrophotometers or colorimeters are used. A spectrophotometer measures the remission values of visible light across the entire spectrum. With these values, the exact color location and color deviations can be defined. The most precise spectrophotometers use a dual-beam method. This means light is split into a spectrum and directed through a holographic grid to two detectors. These detectors consistently provide precise and stable measurements, even in the ultraviolet or infrared range. In contrast, colorimeters map tristimulus values and are ideal for measurements where color should be measured as the human eye perceives it.
Color measurement instruments are tools for the objective and quantitative capture of colors. They quantify the tristimulus values of the three primary colors—red, green, and blue (RGB)—which reflect human color perception. By measuring the intensity of reflected light in these wavelength ranges, they enable the determination of a color’s position in the color space, for example, using the Lab* or LCh° metrics.
There are two main types of color measurement instruments:
Colorimeters: These devices measure the intensity of reflected light in the three primary colors and provide quick results that are sufficient for many applications.
Spectrophotometers: These instruments capture the entire visible spectrum of reflected light and offer a detailed analysis, which is necessary for applications with high color precision requirements.