Matters needing attention when purchasing colorimeter

Colorimeter has the function of color data, which can establish color standards and control color quality. It is also an indispensable instrument for computer color matching. So what should we do to choose a cost-effective instrument when choosing a colorimeter? The following “performance indicators” are what you should pay attention to when choosing.
1. Whether the selected instrument is a ” colorimeter ” or a “spectrophotometer“:
The accuracy of the colorimeter is relatively low, and the accuracy of the spectrophotometer is relatively high. The two methods of color measurement are different. The spectrophotometer can measure the “reflectivity curve” of each color, but the colorimeter cannot. There are many kinds of light sources in the spectrophotometer, but there is only one kind of color difference instrument.

Operate on Instrument

Glass and liquid color

2. The “spectrophotometer” is divided into two measurement observation modes: “0/45 degree” and “d/8 degree integrating sphere”:
“0/45” can only be used to measure smooth surfaces, and cannot be used for computer color matching. The “d/8 degree integrating sphere” can be used to measure various surfaces and be used for computer color matching.
3. Differences between various “d/8 degree integrating sphere” spectrocolorimeters:
Most companies choose the “d/8 degree integrating sphere” spectrophotometer, but it must be noted that there are still great differences between different brands and models, resulting in different measurement accuracy.
In addition to microprocessors and related circuits, a spectroscopic colorimeter has four main components: light source, integrating sphere, spectroscopic optical path and photoelectric detector. This is also the main index to measure the advantages and disadvantages of an instrument.
4. Is it “double beam measurement principle” or “single beam measurement principle”:
The double beam instrument has two light splitting paths and two detectors. The source flashes only once during measurement, and the sample and reference white are also measured. In this way, the error caused by system changes is overcome, and the accuracy of measurement data is very high. But the cost of the instrument is high.
The single beam instrument has only one beam splitter and one detector. Therefore, measure the source flash twice, and measure the sample and reference white respectively. However, the system error (light source intensity distribution difference, light path change, temperature change, circuit drift, etc.) during the two measurements is taken as the difference between the sample and the reference white, so the error is relatively large.
5. Light source:
CLEDs (full band balanced Led light sources) have the advantages of long life, high light intensity, high “signal to noise ratio” (measurement signal/noise) during measurement, and high measurement accuracy. Most manufacturers choose “tungsten light” type instruments, which have the disadvantages of low light intensity, long-term heating, short life, inaccurate measurement in the blue light segment, etc.
6. Scoreball: good quality will not turn yellow in 5 or 6 years, and poor quality will turn yellow in 2 or 3 years.

Five aspects of the development trend of colorimeter：
1. Intelligence: With the rapid development of microelectronics technology, the color difference instrument will adopt microprocessors and sensors with faster operation speed, more complete functions and higher integration, and the color difference instrument will be more intelligent and humanized.
2. Precision and high speed: use microprocessors and sensors with faster operation speed, more complete functions and higher integration to enable the colorimeter to combine more complex algorithms. In addition, due to the development of manufacturing technology, more accurate applications will be realized, integrating balls and sensors, and color difference will become more and more accurate and fast.

Color Card Database

3. Multi color space conversion: The high-speed microprocessor allows color difference to perform multiple operations, so the color difference meter can realize mutual conversion of cierg, CIEXYZ, CIELAB, cielch and hunter losses, giving users more test parameter choices.
4. The PC extends the function of the colorimeter: it provides a serial port connected to the PC computer, which can communicate and transmit data between the colorimeter and the PC computer. It realizes the function expansion of the colorimeter through the PC colorimeter software.
5. Measurement stability: With the development of semiconductor technology, coating technology and efficient algorithms, the measurement data of the colorimeter will become more stable and closer to the spectrophotometer in color measurement.

LISUN lauched Portable Colorimeter/Chroma Meter is an innovation color measuring tool with powerful configuration to make color measurement easier and more professional; It support Bluetooth to connect with Android and ISO devices, Portable Colorimeter/Chroma Meter will take you into a new world of color management; It can be widely used to measure color value, color difference value and find similar color from color cards for printing industry, paint industry, textile industry, etc.

CD-320PRO_Portable Colorimeter/Chroma Meter

Benchtop Spectrophotometer (Transmittance) DSCD-910 is good performance and specially designed for testing the transparent material’s transmittance, absorbance, chromaticity value and other parameters.

The instrument adopts the geometry of D/0, integration of the full band LED composite light source, double beam optical system, ETC every-test calibration technology, which makes the instrument reaches a resolution of 0.0001, deviation of the transmittance within 0.08% and chromatic value △E*ab 0.015.

DSCD-910_Benchtop Spectrophotometer (Transmittance)

Lisun Instruments Limited was found by LISUN GROUP in 2003. LISUN quality system has been strictly certified by ISO9001:2015. As a CIE Membership, LISUN products are designed based on CIE, IEC and other international or national standards. All products passed CE certificate and authenticated by the third party lab.

Our main products are Goniophotometer, Integrating Sphere, Spectroradiometer, Surge Generator, ESD Simulator Guns, EMI Receiver, EMC Test Equipment, Electrical Safety Tester, Environmental Chamber, Temperature Chamber, Climate Chamber, Thermal Chamber, Salt Spray Test, Dust Test Chamber, Waterproof Test, RoHS Test (EDXRF), Glow Wire Test and Needle Flame Test.

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