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Preforms come in a multitude of sizes, shapes and colors. They can range from opaque to translucent or transparent, so require different measurement techniques depending on the sample type.
Opaque Preforms are impenetrable by light and are best measured using a Diffuse d/8 Sphere reflectance instrument.
Translucent Preforms allow light to pass through, but only diffusely, so that objects on the other side cannot be clearly distinguished. Both reflective and transmittance measurement modes may work well depending on the translucency of the sample. As a rule of thumb,
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- If at the path length that your customer will view the sample, you can see slight details of your thumb or finger through the preform, then transmittance is the preferred measurement method.
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- If you cannot see slight details, then reflectance is preferred.
Path length is defined as the thickness of the sample from where the light enters to where it exits the sample.
Transparent Preforms allow light to pass through with little or no interruption or distortion so that objects on the other side can be clearly seen. These preforms can only be measured using transmission instrumentation.
Additionally, certain metrics and indices such as CIE L*a*b* Color, Yellowness, Whiteness, or Haze require the use of specific geometries and specific measurement modes. For the proper instrument selection for your application please refer to the following chart: HunterLab Solutions Chart.
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Many HunterLab spectrophotometers have the versatility to accommodate most applications of color measurement, however, based on 60+ years of experience and a thorough understanding of our customers' needs and product use, these particular instruments are most suited for this industry application:
If you are unsure which instrument type is right for your samples, please call or email HunterLab technical support and we will be happy to assist you in making the proper instrument selection.
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AN 1001.01 APHA
Measuring the Water Whiteness of Liquids Using the APHA Index.
AN 1002.01 Standard ObserverCIE Standard Observers and calculation of CIE X, Y, Z color values.
AN 1005 HunterLab vs CIE LabMeasuring Color using Hunter L, a, b vs CIE 1976 L*a*b*.
AN 1007.01 Geometric AttributeMeasuring the Geometric Attribute of Your Products.
AN 1013 AveragingAveraging in Color Measurement.
AN 1018 Hitch StdzUsing Hitch Standardization on a Series of Color Measuring Instruments.
AN 1031 Identification of Measurement ParametersIdentification of Measurement Parameters.
AN 1033 Color versus AppearanceUnderstanding the difference between measuring color and measuring appearance.
HunterLab Solution MatrixGeometry, Measurement Modes, and Indices.
MM 5019 Measuring Flat Opaque Solids with ColorQuest XEMeasurement method for flat, opaque solids using the UltraScan PRO, UltraScan VIS, or ColorQuest XE.
MM 5001 Measuring Translucent and Opaque Bottles with ColorQuest XEMeasurement method for translucent and opaque bottles using the UltraScan VIS, UltraScan PRO, and ColorQuest XE.
MM 5002 Measuring Transparent Bottles with ColorQuest XEMethod for measuring transparent bottles using the ColorQuest XE, UltraScan PRO, and UltraScan VIS.
MM 5006 Measuring Coated Glass with ColorQuest XEMeasurement method for coated glass using the UltraScan PRO, ColorQuest XE, and UltraScan VIS.
MM 5013 Measuring Plastic Pellets with ColorQuest XEMeasurement method for plastic pellets using the ColorQuest XE, UltraScan PRO, or UltraScan VIS.
MM 5015 Measuring Dense or Opqaue Bottle Preforms with ColorQuest XEMeasurement method for opaque or dense bottle preforms using the UltraScan VIS, ColorQuest XE, or UltraScan PRO.
MM 5016 Measuring Transparent Bottle Preforms with ColorQuest XEMeasurement method for metal surfaces using the UltraScan VIS, UltraScan PRO, or ColorQuest XE.
MM 5021 Measuring Translucent Solids with ColorQuest XEMeasurement method for flat, translucent solids using the UltraScan PRO, UltraScan VIS, or ColorQuest XE.
MM 5022 Measuring Metal Surfaces with ColorQuest XEMeasurement method for metal surfaces using the UltraScan VIS, UltraScan PRO, or ColorQuest XE.
MM 5026 Measuring Translucent and Opaque Bottles with UltraScan VISMeasurement method for translucent and opaque bottles using the UltraScan VIS, UltraScan PRO, and ColorQuest XE.
MM 5027 Measuring Transparent Bottles with UltraScan VISMethod for measuring transparent bottles using the ColorQuest XE, UltraScan PRO, and UltraScan VIS.
MM 5031 Measuring Coated Glass with UltraScan VISMeasurement method for coated glass using the UltraScan PRO, ColorQuest XE, and UltraScan VIS.
MM 5038 Measuring Plastics Pellets with UltraScan VISMeasurement method for plastic pellets using the ColorQuest XE, UltraScan PRO, or UltraScan VIS.
MM 5040 Measuring Opaque or Dense Bottle Preforms with UltraScan VISMeasurement method for plastic pellets using the ColorQuest XE, UltraScan PRO, or UltraScan VIS.
MM 5041 Measuring Transparent Bottle Preforms with UltraScan VISMeasurement method for metal surfaces using the UltraScan VIS, UltraScan PRO, or ColorQuest XE.
MM 5044 Measuring Flat Opaque Solids with UltraScan VISMeasurement method for flat, opaque solids using the UltraScan PRO, UltraScan VIS, or ColorQuest XE.
MM 5046 Measuring Flat Translucent Solids with UltraScan VISMeasurement method for flat, translucent solids using the UltraScan PRO, UltraScan VIS, or ColorQuest XE.
MM 5047 Measuring Metal Surfaces with UltraScan VISMeasurement method for metal surfaces using the UltraScan VIS, UltraScan PRO, or ColorQuest XE.
MM 5051 Measuring Translucent and Opaque Bottles with UltraScan PROMeasurement method for translucent and opaque bottles using the UltraScan VIS, UltraScan PRO, and ColorQuest XE.
MM 5052 Measuring Transparent Bottles with UltraScan PROMeasurement method for opaque or dense bottle preforms using the UltraScan VIS, ColorQuest XE, or UltraScan PRO.
MM 5056 Measuring Coated Glass with UltraScan PROMeasurement method for coated glass using the UltraScan PRO, ColorQuest XE, and UltraScan VIS.
MM 5063 Measuring Plastics Pellets with UltraScan PROMeasurement method for plastic pellets using the ColorQuest XE, UltraScan PRO, or UltraScan VIS.
MM 5065 Measuring Opaque or Dense Bottle Preforms with UltraScan PROMeasurement method for transparent bottle preforms using the UltraScan VIS, ColorQuest XE, or UltraScan PRO.
MM 5066 Measuring Transparent Bottle Preforms with UltraScan PROMeasurement method for metal surfaces using the UltraScan VIS, UltraScan PRO, or ColorQuest XE.
MM 5069 Measuring Flat Opaque Solids with UltraScan PROMeasurement method for flat, opaque solids using the UltraScan PRO, UltraScan VIS, or ColorQuest XE.
MM 5071 Measuring Flat Translucent Solids with UltraScan PROMeasurement method for flat, translucent solids using the UltraScan PRO, UltraScan VIS, or ColorQuest XE.
MM 5072 Measuring Metal Surfaces with UltraScan PROMeasurement method for metal surfaces using the UltraScan VIS, UltraScan PRO, or ColorQuest XE.
Plastic Industry BrochureColor measurement solutions for the plastics industry.