Interested in a little light reading?

Duochrome cosmetics are helping consumers create dramatic new looks. Image Source: Unsplash user Bernard Osei

Duochrome may sound like something one would find in the automotive industry, but in recent years, it’s made its way into makeup bags around the world. Duochrome refers to a type of color changing makeup that doesn’t actually change color. Instead, its appearance changes based on the angle that it’s viewed. It’s a dramatic look that’s made its way onto many runways through the years. However, the creation of this makeup is a complex process and its ability to interact with light is key; creating colors that appear to change based on how they’re viewed requires developing a precise, exacting formula.

There’s a lot of room for error in creating these cosmetics, as development hinges on interference pigments. These pigments “interfere” with an existing color and if used incorrectly, the end result could be lackluster. As such, base color is the key to establishing a cosmetic that uses interference pigments to their full advantage. By using spectrophotometric color measurement, cosmetics manufacturers can develop a base color that works perfectly with interference pigments and move that color into mass production.

Interference pigments allow for the creation of dynamic cosmetics that appear to change based on angle. Image Source: Unsplash user Raphael Lovaski

Color coordination and style rely on more than just a complimentary pallet. Finding the right color match is a valuable part in developing aesthetic appeal, and consistency from batch to batch is an important factor in the quality of paint products. Image Source: Flickr user latteda

Our homeowner association (HOA) is considered both a blessing and a curse throughout our neighborhood. On one hand, it ensures that the house next door doesn’t become the dumping grounds for old fixer vehicles. But on the flip side, if our kids leave their bikes on the lawn for 15 minutes and the inspector drives by, we end up with a nasty letter in our mailbox. Despite my complaints, we’ve all driven by a house—that one with the burnt orange siding, neon green trim, and eggplant colored door—that makes one wonder what the owners were thinking. In those moments I am thankful that our HOA has guaranteed our street is lined with complementary colors in a more generalized pallet.

Regardless of my more conservative taste in color, I am still surprised how difficult choosing the right hues can be. Simply grabbing a color sample card off the shelf and throwing some paint up on the walls does not always guarantee the outcome you desire. Quality results rely on both color and gloss measurement of paint to ensure that what you see is what you get. These basic color measurement guidelines start at the beginning of paint development and production to ensure that final product results are consistent, accurate, and made to last.

Harsh conditions require constant repainting of Naval ships with older paint formulas. Image Credit: Flickr User Kevin Burkett (CC by 2.0)

Same ship, different day. Adjusting the boom controls, Ryan rises 20 feet in the air to where he left off yesterday and begins to spray. Join the Navy, they said. Above him the curve of the hull and the broad, flat deck seemingly miles above overhangs him, blocking out the morning sun. He sprays a broad line, then adjusts his boom controls, then sprays another broad line. See the world, they said. He pauses to jam his earplugs deeper into his ear canals, but the dull vibrations from the thousands of workers involved in overhauling the aircraft carrier still pulse through his skull, heavying his thoughts. He turns his head to look down the length of the hull at all the steel yet to be painted. This would take weeks. If not months. I should have been a Marine, thinks Ryan, as he adjusts his boom controls and sprays another broad line of the same, dull, haze grey.

U.S. Navy Buys Large Volumes of Polysiloxane Paint

The U.S. Navy currently maintains around 430 active and reserve duty ships, including ten aircraft carriers. Each aircraft carrier takes 200,000 gallons1 or more of haze grey paint to cover. That’s 2 million gallons of paint used on aircraft carriers alone, if only one coat were to be applied. But even though the Navy has begun using high-tech polymer paint applications2 made of polysiloxane that last many times as long as older silicon alkyd paints, each ship must still be repainted on a consistent basis. The same holds true for the other 420 ships in the fleet, and any and all new ships currently under construction. This means that if you’re selling paint to the Navy, you’re selling a lot of paint.

Laundry is one of those chores that seems unending, but I actually enjoy in the monotony of washing and folding. There’s something about the clean smell of fresh clothes that lightens my mood. Maybe that’s why I linger in the laundry aisle of the supermarket pondering detergents every time I shop. Between the variety of scents and the eye-catching visual appeal of the packaging, I’m always open to new options.

But one attribute that often goes unnoticed by consumers is the color of the detergent itself—despite the fact that this single factor might provide the most accurate information about quality and performance. Color analysis of liquid detergents is widely relied upon within the industry to monitor cleaning performance and color stability and to meet environmental control standards. In order to make the most of this information, however, detergent manufacturers must choose the right color measurement instrumentation—and fully understand its capabilities.

Petroleum is used in the development of numerous products and applications. Refinement and quality control of these products all rely on color analysis to meet regulatory standards for safety and quality. Image Source: Flickr user Steve Snodgrass

Color is a key indicator of quality in petroleum-based products and developing a color range is an important part of the refinement process. A color range can often be used for monitoring contamination and quality control. Petroleum-based products make up a wide variety of manufactured goods; with consumers relying on color for acceptability, it’s crucial to meet the quality standards of visual perception.

There are several test methods available for determining the color of refined oils and these are necessary for addressing the use of petroleum within a variety of applications. From fuel sources to pharmaceuticals, color analysis plays an important role in developing products that are high in quality and safe for use. Spectrophotometric determination and quantification of color is commonly used for developing color range measurements needed for monitoring variations in processing and meeting standardization requirements.

Concrete is a common material used in many building structures. New options in color choices are expanding design options and increasing the popularity of concrete among consumers. Image Source: Flickr user Joey Carino

Summer is my favorite time of year to explore the beautiful area in which I live. Portland, Oregon is known as a “weird” little city that boasts eccentric doughnut shops, a unicycle riding bagpipe player, as well as architecturally beautiful buildings, bridges, and of course the breathtaking views of rivers and mountains that adorn our cityscape. Often referred to as Bridgetown or Bridge City owing to the bridges crossing the Willamette and Columbia rivers, many visitors stop to admire the intricate shapes, colors, and designs of these structures that connect our downtown area together.

Concrete is a major building material used in our city since it can be formed into nearly any shape, size, or color. Structurally sound and easily sourced, this material is popular in the architectural design features found in Portland and many other cities around the country. New technology in concrete color pigments offers even more versatility in this material by creating a wider range of color options to improve building design elements and features.

New options in concrete color pigments add visual and aesthetic appeal to many building projects, both commercially and residentially, which in turn is creating an industry that is growing at a steady pace. From building facades to stamped concrete patios, new options in colors are making concrete the preferred choice among many consumers today. As manufacturers work to meet consumer demands for quality and color options, top production facilities rely on advanced spectral analysis for quality control. While pigment color measurement does present challenges when it comes to consistency and repeatability, choosing the right instrumentation can alleviate common problems associated with powdered pigment measurement and provide the most accurate data in color measurement.

New color options in concrete pigments are developing a larger market for commercial sales and consumers are flocking to the new products offered. Image Source: Flickr’ user Tim Seay

Essential oil spectrophotometers help you determine how pure an oil is based on its color, which in turn could impact how your perfume smells. Image Source: Flickr user sunny mama

The alluring aroma of a perfume might win over the heart of a picky customer, but experienced perfume manufacturers know that this is only one small part of what makes a particular scent so enticing. In reality, the perfume’s color also plays a major role in sales, and in some cases, can directly impact the scent of the perfume itself. After all, the quality of a perfume is only as good as the ingredients that went into producing it. If you want to ensure that the oils you use are absolutely pure and powerfully fragrant, you should consider investing in a spectrophotometer. Using this tool, you can make sure that each bottle of perfume looks identical and that you’re always using the best essential oils available.

• Some essential oils, like sandalwood, will look darker in color and appear hazier than clear, brighter essential oils like lavender. Image Source: Flickr user Your Best Digs