Portable & Handheld Spectrophotometers

Types of Portable Spectrophotometers

A portable spectrophotometer is a compact instrument ideal for measuring color, verifying tolerances, identifying metamerism, and taking pass/fail measurement for quality control. Since it is light weight, portable, mobile device, it is an ideal laboratory and field instrument for use by field technicians for field testing. You can purchase a compact portable spectrophotometer in a variety of shapes and sizes, but the most important consideration is the surface you will be measuring.

Why Choose a Portable Sphere Spectrophotometer?

It can be a challenge to measure reflective surfaces because the effect of gloss can change the color appearance. A sphere spectrophotometer measures the light reflected at all angles to calculate a color measurement that closely matches human vision. It is commonly used for measuring color that has been applied to textured surfaces such as textiles, carpets, and plastics, as well as shiny or mirror-like surfaces like metallic inks, printing over foil, and other highly glossy surfaces.

The inside of a sphere instrument is a highly reflective white surface with a light source on the rear. A baffle prevents it from directly illuminating the sample, which provides diffuse illumination. The sample and gloss angle are both viewed by the detector at 8° from perpendicular, so this is where the specular port is located. The reference beam port monitors the sphere wall to account for changes in illumination.

A sphere spectrophotometer has features of a conventional bench-top spectrophotometer and can provide reflectance measurements in two ways: specular included (SPIN) and specular excluded (SPEX). To include gloss in the measurement, the specular port closes. To exclude gloss, the specular port opens to let the specular component escape. The texture and/or gloss influence of samples can vary greatly, especially with reflective material, textiles, and textile materials. A SPIN measurement truly evaluates the color without respect to gloss or texture, while a SPEX measurement captures the full appearance of a sample.

With a rugged exterior, X-Rite's durable Ci60 series of laboratory instruments are ideal for heavy use in rugged conditions. Key features include an ergonomic design, user-friendly, intuitive clear screen interface with a wavelength range of 400 nm - 700 nm and straight forward pass indication with a green tick. Dual spot switchable medium and small apertures (4 and 8 or 14 mm) provide greater flexibility to measure a wider variety of sample sizes and can be fitted with optional cuvettes and sample cells to take quick measurement and quality control readings on hard-to-hold samples. The flip-back shoe is designed to withstand heavy use, and it has a reliable detent lock.

The Ci60 series ranges from the standalone Ci60 to the advanced and precise Ci64, which is available in multiple configurations with simultaneous measurement of both specular component (SPIN/SPEX), correlated gloss, and a UV option to accurately measure uneven surfaces on a variety of products and packaging types in an efficient manner. The Ci60 series provides absolute and difference measurements from any of the nine illuminants/observer combinations for L*a*b*, DL*Da*Db*, L *C*h°, DL*DC*DH*, DE*ab, DECMC, DE CIE94 and XYZ. Whiteness and Yellowness per ASTM E 313-98.

Why Choose a Portable Multi-Angle Spectrophotometer?

While extreme effect finishes can help differentiate products, they also make measuring and controlling color difficult. To characterize special effects and ensure consistency across adjacent parts, you need a multi-angle spectrophotometer to characterize color, sparkle, and coarseness.

A multi-angle spectrophotometer views the color of a sample as if it is being moved back and forth, just as you would twist a sample to see the color at various angles. These instruments are used for specially coated pigments and special effect colors with additives such as mica and pearlescent in nail polish and automotive coatings.

X-Rite's MA Series of multi-angle spectrophotometers sets a new industry standard for measurement of effect finishes; capturing color, sparkle and coarseness with greater repeatability, reproducibility and ease of use than ever before. Touch screen navigation makes operation simple and a real-time preview of the measurement area ensures you capture the correct spot. The MA series offers rugged construction for use in a rigorous production environment and a comfortable grip to measure with greater precision.

The MA-T 6 and MA-T 12 feature an RGB camera and white light illumination to capture sample readings on special effect finishes and provide straight forward pass indication that matches the way the human eye perceives color.

The MA-5 QC offers friendly ergonomics for operation of the instrument and has a centrally located aperture with 3 positioning pins ensure stable measurements. 

Why Choose a Portable 45:0 Spectrophotometer?

The most common spectrophotometer, this instrument measures light reflected at a fixed angle to the sample, usually 45˚, and can exclude gloss to most closely replicate how the human eye sees color. These devices are commonly used for measuring color on smooth or matte surfaces like paper substrates in print and packaging applications.

With on-board high-resolution camera to power Mantis video targeting technology and a unique Digital Loupe feature, eXact 2 is the ideal choice for printers, converters, and ink suppliers. Innovative features like a “two-taps or less” touch-screen interface, Wi-Fi connectivity, and integrated scanning wheels help achieve quality standards 17% faster than alternative solutions to satisfy even the most color-critical customers. Try our ROI Calculator to find out how much you can save with eXact 2.

eXact 2 comes in a variety of models to meet the needs of printers, converters, and ink suppliers. Learn which is right for you.

Still not sure which is right? Get in touch to speak with a Color Expert about your specific portable handheld spectrophotometer needs.