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How to Operate a Spectrophotometer

Posted on Jan 28, 2026 by HunterLab

Spectrophotometric solutions simplify the science of quantifying chromatic data for many industries. Manufacturers using a spectrophotometer benefit from higher product quality and consistency, increasing customer satisfaction. Accurately quantifying color and appearance starts with learning how to use a spectrophotometer correctly and implementing a standardized process.

1. Turn the Device on and Allow It to Warm Up

The first step in preparing a spectrophotometer for use is to turn it on and allow it to warm up so it can function correctly. Warmup times can vary depending on the model and manufacturer, but you'll generally want to wait 30 minutes. To protect the integrity of your outcomes, verify the exact time frame by consulting your owner's manual.

How to Measure the Color of Spices With the ColorFlex L2

Posted on Jan 28, 2026 by HunterLab

Spice color measurement presents several challenges, from controlling costs for more expensive spices to maintaining effective quality control procedures. The ColorFlex L2 from HunterLab easily addresses these and other measurement difficulties, reducing wastage and ensuring accuracy.

The Challenges of Spice Color Control

Spice color control comes with several unique hurdles, including:

Meeting industry-standard control regulations, such as those from the American Spice Trade Association (ASTA)
Measuring color as it changes throughout stages of production and considering the influence of maturity on color
Managing costs in spectral data measurement, especially for more expensive spice varieties
Maintaining quality control by identifying variations that could indicate compromised food safety

How the ColorFlex L2 Helps

The ColorFlex L2 is a durable, reliable color measurement solution that takes up minimal space on your benchtop. It works on everything from powders to granules, making it ideal for measuring spices throughout various stages of production. This solution includes all scales and indexes in the food industry, including ASTA.

It enables you to control costs, even for expensive spice varieties, by measuring small samples and reducing the wastage of end products. You can even export your results to monitor data and safety over time.

How to Measure the Color of Powders With the ColorFlex L2

Posted on Jan 28, 2026 by HunterLab

Loose powders present several color measurement challenges, from nonuniform samples to light interference. These challenges exist across everything from powdered chemicals to cocoa and baking powder. The ColorFlex L2 overcomes all the challenges of powder color measurement, offering an easy-to-use design and high-quality results.

The Difficulties of Powder Color Measurement

Understanding the challenges faced in color measurement enables you to address them more effectively. Here are the most common issues in collecting spectral data for powders:

Nonuniformity: Powders consist of tiny particles that appear differently depending on how they are prepared.
Light sensitivity: Powders cause light trapping, shadowing, and ambient light interference, which can result in inaccurate measurements.
Sample size: Powders often consist of a small amount of material, but the sample must be thick enough to create an opaque layer.

Best Practices to Measure the Color of Tomato Paste

Posted on Jan 28, 2026 by HunterLab

Consumers of food products like tomato paste judge their quality by their color. Appearance relates to freshness and taste, so buyers prefer a product with a standardized, consistent appearance. Following best practices in color measurement allows tomato paste producers to create a product that appeals to customers, influencing sales.

Consider Factors Influencing Color

Before measuring color, determine the factors that influence it. The ripeness of the tomatoes impacts appearance, as the amount of lycopene increases as tomatoes ripen to create a more vibrant red. Other factors, like production methods and storage conditions, lead to variations such as brown or muted hues. Knowing these factors enables producers to adjust their processes based on the measurement results.

Best Practices for Measuring the Color of Transparent Plastic Film

Posted on Jan 28, 2026 by HunterLab

The color of a transparent film plays an essential role in its appearance and, in most cases, its functionality. Color measurement can ensure accurate and consistent transparency of plastic film. Let's explore some of the best practices for measuring the color of transparent film.

The Importance of Color Measurement for Transparent Plastic Film

Transparent plastic film has many applications, from packaging food and beverages to protecting cell phone screens. In these applications, the plastic film's appearance directly impacts the product's quality and how customers perceive it.

For instance, a customer would choose a clear screen protector instead of a cloudy one because cloudiness affects visibility. Because of this, achieving a consistent level of transparency and clarity with every batch is crucial. Measuring the color of plastic film allows you to monitor variables such as visibility, clarity, and haze where transparency is concerned.

Best Practices for Measuring the Color of Plastic Pellets

Posted on Jan 28, 2026 by HunterLab

Best Practices for Measuring the Color of Plastic Pellets

Determining the color of plastic pellets can be challenging when you only rely on visual inspection. Whether the pellets are transparent or opaque, subtle changes in color can be easy to miss. You need to develop an effective color measurement system and use advanced tools to ensure consistent and precise results with each batch. Explore some of our best practices for measuring the color of plastic pellets.

Measure Plastic Pellets According to Industry Standards

ASTM provides testing standards for the color determination of plastic pellets. The standard outlines testing methods for the degree of yellowness in transparent and opaque pellets.

Adhering to industry standards during the measuring process is essential for adapting uniform procedures and ensuring quality control.

Accurately Assess the Degree of Yellowness

Plastic resin or Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) can turn yellow over time due to oxidation, making it critical to assess the degree of yellowness to ascertain the amount of optical brighteners needed to mitigate it. Optical brighteners are used in plastic production to mask the yellow appearance and make the plastics look clear or bright.

Optical brighteners are also used when restoring recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate (rPET). As governing and standard bodies push for the use of recycled plastic resin, using a spectrophotometer can help determine the color of plastics as they move throughout the supply chain and counter the yellowing effect. Additionally, counteracting the yellowing effect can minimize product waste and revenue loss.

Best Practices for Measuring the Color of Opaque and Transparent Pellets

Posted on Jan 28, 2026 by HunterLab

Measuring the color of opaque and transparent pellets is essential for ensuring consistency across production. This is especially true for plastic pellets, which are often produced in large manufacturing lines where checking each individual product can be challenging. To ensure the desired color and appearance are achieved with every batch, it's important to consider these best practices:

Evaluate the Importance of Plastic Pellet Colors

Plastic pellets are primarily used as a raw material in the creation of nearly every plastic product. As the building blocks of plastic products, pellets must maintain a specific color to align with the desired color of the final product. While the color of the pellets does not directly impact the final product's color, it is still vital for quality control.

In the plastic industry, color is essential for determining quality. Measuring the color of opaque and transparent pellets is crucial for delivering a final product with the same reliable appearance that appeals to the customer.

Consider Industry Standards for Pellet Colors

The ASTM has developed a testing standard for determining the color of pellets. Pellets are tested for their degree of yellowness or how the yellowness changes under daylight on transparent or opaque plastics. However, the yellowness attribute has to be considered with other tristimulus values from a spectrophotometer or colorimeter to quantify the color precisely.

Interested in a little light reading?

"How to Operate a Spectrophotometer"

"How to Measure the Color of Spices With the ColorFlex L2"

"How to Measure the Color of Powders With the ColorFlex L2"

"Best Practices to Measure the Color of Tomato Paste"

"Best Practices for Measuring the Color of Transparent Plastic Film"

"Best Practices for Measuring the Color of Plastic Pellets"

"Best Practices for Measuring the Color of Opaque and Transparent Pellets"

How to Operate a Spectrophotometer

1. Turn the Device on and Allow It to Warm Up

How to Measure the Color of Spices With the ColorFlex L2

The Challenges of Spice Color Control

How the ColorFlex L2 Helps

How to Measure the Color of Powders With the ColorFlex L2

The Difficulties of Powder Color Measurement

Best Practices to Measure the Color of Tomato Paste

Consider Factors Influencing Color

Best Practices for Measuring the Color of Transparent Plastic Film

The Importance of Color Measurement for Transparent Plastic Film

Best Practices for Measuring the Color of Plastic Pellets

Best Practices for Measuring the Color of Plastic Pellets

Measure Plastic Pellets According to Industry Standards

Accurately Assess the Degree of Yellowness

Best Practices for Measuring the Color of Opaque and Transparent Pellets

Evaluate the Importance of Plastic Pellet Colors

Consider Industry Standards for Pellet Colors

Measure Pellet Colors With Spectrophotometers