COLOUR MEASUREMENT | TECHNOLOGY


Capturing consistency in colour matching


New colour tools include instruments that can measure smaller areas and address gloss and temperature variations, plus better support for digital communication. Jennifer Markarian reports


Colour measurement devices are important tools for the plastics compound and masterbatch industry, because it is essential for plastics materi- als to consistently match their intended colour. Spectrophotometers, which range from handheld to benchtop to in-line, are widely used for accurate, instrumented colour measurement. “Human vision alone isn’t reliable enough for consistent colour decisions – especially with tight colour tolerances,” said Matthew Adby, Product Management Director, X-Rite. “The colour work- flow – from specification to formulation to quality control – must deliver accurate results across a range of materials, including opaque, translucent, and textured plastics. To meet tight customer tolerances and manage production variability,


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selecting the right measurement instrument is essential. This means considering application needs, measurement geometry, and how well the device integrates with formulation and quality control software.” Spectrophotometers provide a spectral value for a colour that can be used in digital colour commu- nication. Digital communication makes the colour matching and decision process faster and more consistent compared to mailing physical colour chips and samples back and forth, for example. “The ability to digitally communicate colour


specifications across the workflow and integrate them with colour measurement devices and software allows masterbatchers to accelerate colour formulation and get to an approved colour


July 2025 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 29


Main image: X-Rite says digital


workflows allow rapid implementa- tion of the latest colour trends


IMAGE: X-RITE


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