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Online monitoring of coating glass transmittance, optical density, and thickness can identify production deviations before an entire batch is finished. The LS152 in-line transmittance tester measures continuously produced coated and patterned glass, displays readings at multiple points, and can record production data for faster quality control.

Vacuum-metallized aluminum films are used in packaging, communications, industry, agriculture, and research. Because the aluminum layer is extremely thin, conventional thickness gauges may not be suitable. Learn how optical density and transmittance measurements with the LS152 in-line gauge help monitor coating uniformity, product quality, and production efficiency.

How large can a color difference be before people notice it? This guide explains general perceptual ranges for ΔE values, from barely perceptible differences to strong, obvious differences. Use these ranges as a reference alongside visual assessment and application-specific tolerances.

Effective color matching starts with understanding color characteristics, spectral order, and how people visually perceive light. This guide describes the impressions associated with red, yellow, blue, green, purple, and white, including how small additions of other colors can change their appearance.

Roll-to-roll vacuum coating is a high-efficiency process for coating flexible webs such as plastic film and metal foil. This guide compares coating technologies and thickness measurement methods, explains optical density (OD) and transmittance, and describes how in-line LS152 readings can be sent to a PLC to help control the coating process.

Automotive window tint can reduce heat and UV exposure, and its metallic layers influence performance. This guide explains how a tint transmission meter can assess UV and infrared blocking, visible-light transmission, and film quality, and introduces the LS160 and LS162 meters for films and tinted glass.

ΔE expresses the overall numerical difference between two colors and is used in R&D, color matching, incoming inspection, process adjustment, batch comparison, and customer acceptance. Learn how ΔE relates to ΔL*, Δa*, and Δb*, how to interpret common ranges, and which measurement conditions must be aligned for meaningful comparisons.

Different colorimeter or spectrocolorimeter readings do not always mean the instrument is faulty. Learn how sample condition, measurement settings, calibration, and instrument differences affect results, and follow a practical step-by-step process to find the cause.

In an ideal workflow, ink goes into the press and the job runs smoothly. In practice, many variables affect color, leading to wasted materials and adjustment time. A colorimeter makes color measurement easier, but consistent results still depend on the right substrate, instrument condition, measurement geometry, filter setting, and illuminant.

Gloss is an important visual surface property that influences how consumers perceive a product, alongside color. It describes an appearance ranging from a soft sheen to a highly reflective, metallic-like finish. Learn how gloss is measured, when to use 20°, 60°, and 85° geometries, and how the 3nh NHG268 gloss meter supports quality control.

SCI and SCE are two common color measurement modes that differ in how they handle specular reflection. SCI can reduce the influence of surface gloss when comparing material color, while SCE more readily reflects appearance differences such as gloss and matte finishes. Learn why L*a*b* and ΔE may differ and how to choose consistent conditions for R&D, material comparison, inspection, and supplier-customer evaluation.

Haze meters measure haze, light transmittance, and transmission in transparent or translucent materials such as plastic films, glass, packaging, display and optical materials, and liquids. Transmittance describes how much light passes through a material; haze describes the blurring caused by scattering of transmitted light. Learn the measurement principles, key terms and formulas, suitable samples, instrument selection, and quality-control considerations.

Both colorimeters and spectrophotometers measure color and color difference, but they use different measurement principles and provide different optical data. This guide compares how they obtain color information, why L*a*b* and ΔE readings may differ, the role of SCI/SCE and metamerism, and what quality, R&D, and purchasing teams should check when selecting or comparing instruments.

Densitometers, colorimeters, and spectrophotometers are the main tools for color control in printing. Although their functions differ, each measures color using reflected or transmitted light. This article explains their operating principles and data outputs, then summarizes practical requirements for densitometers and colorimeters used in print production.

CIEDE2000 (ΔE00) is an improved color-difference formula based on CIELAB. It applies separate corrections for lightness, chroma, and hue to better reflect how people perceive color differences across different regions. Learn how ΔE00 differs from ΔE*ab, why the formula was developed, and which measurement conditions should be standardized.