Benchtop Spectrophotometer Aids in Color Measurement

The BYK-Gardner color2view from Paul N. Gardner USA (Gardco) is a benchtop spectrophotometer that provides an upgrade in color measurement, the company says. By combining several, different measurement methods, the color2view becomes an objective eye that evaluates visual color impression in its entity. 

The color2view uses a circumferential illumination at 45 degrees with 0-degree viewing to measure color as the user sees it. The circumferential illumination from 10 directions promotes repeatable measurement results on textured surfaces. Simultaneously with color, 20- and 60-degree gloss are measured to clearly differentiate medium-gloss and highgloss samples.

In addition, the color2view has a fluorimeter integrated to predict light fastness by quantifying fluorescence — the calculated color change after fluorescence degradation is displayed with easy-to-understand CIELAB- and DE data. The combination of a spectrophotometer and a fluorimeter opens new perspectives for controlling color quality and promoting long-term color stability. The color2view Pro offers a Jetness Mode, which is specially designed to measure deep and deepest black with highest accuracy. It features good technical performance, which also is confirmed for the very low reflectance range R < 0.1 %.

The compact, lightweight instrument can be rotated to adapt the orientation — top or front port — to one’s personal needs or sample size and shape. Operation via the color touchscreen is icon-based — as intuitive as using a smartphone, the company says. An integrated camera broadcasts a live preview of the measurement spot. This reduces false readings on imperfections or scratches, and increases precise positioning of the sample.

Gardco says thoughtful engineering has gone into the color2view to provide updated and useful functionalities. The result is a storage compartment for standards, which confirms that standards are always at hand and protected. There is also a smart sample holder. The sample holder can be stored flat in the housing of the instrument when not in use and be parked at several positions on its way to the measurement area where it touches the sample’s surface gently because of the soft-close function. The color2view X models can be used with interchangeable apertures to measure small to large samples.

The extra-large measurement spot with homogenous illumination promotes highly repeatable and representative readings. All together, highest accuracy and inter-instrument agreement are secured and enable users to utilize digital standards. The implementation of digital standards used to be limited to one instrument family. Gardco says digital standards can be exchanged between benchtop and portable color instruments for the first time and without any extra profiling. Because of the intra-instrument agreement between color2view and spectro2guide, the company says the seamless use of digital standards has become reality.