LimsPulse
Materials & polymer testing

Colorimeter / colour spectrophotometer

Measures the colour of a surface or liquid as numbers in a standard colour space such as CIE L*a*b*, and the colour difference (ΔE*) from a standard. Used for batch-to-batch colour matching of paints, plastics, chemicals and cosmetics.

  • Paints & coatings
  • Polymers & plastics
  • Chemicals
  • Oils & fats
  • Textiles
  • Cosmetics
  • Food
Photo of a Colorimeter / colour spectrophotometer
Photo: Sonal Shinde, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped), via Wikimedia Commons
CALIBRATION

Colorimeter calibration procedures

White and black tile calibration

Sets the 0% and 100% points of the reflectance scale with a black trap or tile and a certified white tile, then verifies accuracy with the white tile and a coloured check tile.

Open procedure
QUALIFICATION

Instrument qualification (DQ · IQ · OQ · PQ)

  1. 01

    DQ

    Choose geometry (d/8° or 45°/0°), aperture sizes, reflectance and/or transmission, UV control and software features.

  2. 02

    IQ

    Record serial numbers of instrument and tiles, tile certificates and software version; install away from direct sunlight.

  3. 03

    OQ

    Black and white calibration, then verify photometric accuracy and repeatability with certified check tiles, and wavelength accuracy where the maker provides a test.

  4. 04

    PQ

    Measure a retained product standard or check tile routinely and chart ΔE* against its assigned values.

In LimsPulse · Calibration Management

Keep every Colorimeter in control: usage logs, calibration and maintenance schedules, and automatic blocking of overdue instruments.

See how