X-Rite 제품과 서비스를 관리하는 중앙 위치를 찾고 계세요? My X-Rite에서 확인하세요. 제품 정보나 지원, 서비스 세부 정보 또는 학습 리소스에 대한 액세스가 필요한 경우 몇 번의 클릭만으로 무료 온라인 포털을 이용할 수 있습니다. 연중무휴 24시간 액세스 가능: 컴퓨터나 모바일 장치에서 24시간 내내 개인 대시보드에 쉽게 액세스할 수 있습니다. 맞춤형 대시보드: 편리한 단일 위치에서 가장 중요한 정보들을 확인할 수 있습니다. 간편한 서비스 및 지원: 서비스 및 지원 티켓을 제출하고 추적할 수 있습니다. My X-Rite란 무엇인가? My X-Rite는 한 곳에서 장치를 관리하고, 주문 추적, 송장 확인, 서비스 및 지원 티켓을 모니터링할 수 있는 온라인 포털입니다. 맞춤형 대시보드를 사용하면 이메일이나 전화를 보내지 않고도 하루 24시간, 일주일 내내 컴퓨터나 모바일 장치에서 가장 중요한 정보를 확인할 수 있습니다. My X-Rit...

A recent amendment to the EU Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment will remove the current exemption for mercury to be used in a number of types of fluorescent lamps for special purposes by 24th of February 2025. These bulbs are defined under clause 2(b)(4)-I of the EU REACH directive. After the expiration date, the sale of new equipment including fluorescent technology under this exemption will not be allowed in Europe. Th...

Enhancing Automotive Aesthetics with Automotive Color Match In today's fast-paced automotive industry where innovation is the driving force, the demand for precision and perfection has never been higher. Automotive designers and manufacturers are constantly seeking ways to enhance vehicle aesthetics, while parts manufacturers and refinishers strive to match color and appearance between parts and across sites. The Significance of Automotive Color Matching The right automotive paint color not onl...

Does your quality control program include visual evaluation? If not, it should. Using the SpectraLight QC as part of a color evaluation workflow. No matter your industry, judging color is more than just measuring samples with a color measurement device. Just because a spectrophotometer says your color is within tolerance, doesn’t necessarily mean it will look right to the human eye. To minimize customer rejects, your color control process needs to include visual evaluation in a light boo...

This time of year, the internet is full of Top 10 Countdowns. It’s a tradition we’ve embraced since 1940 when the Billboard published its first chart ranking the top selling recorded songs. Since then, others have jumped on the bandwagon to highlight the most popular trends of the previous year.   We’ve been publishing our top-read blogs since 2016, and we’re happy to see some educational topics like color perception, tolerancing, and spectrophotometers continue to r...

분광측색계를 교정하는 이유는 무엇일까요? 대부분의 경우 오늘날의 측색 장비는 100% 디지털 방식입니다. 실제로 내부에는 전구를 제외하고는 아날로그 부품이 거의 없습니다. 이전의 아날로그 제품보다 더 안정적이지만 허용 오차가 훨씬 작으므로, 이러한 엄격한 사양 내에서 유지하려면 정기적인 분광측색계 교정이 필요합니다. 전구 안정성 장비를 사용하면서 전구를 계속 켜고 끄게 되므로 그 특성이 바뀌기 시작합니다. 분광측색계 보정은 전구의 이러한 빛 생산 능력의 변화를 보정합니다. 신중하게 보정하면 전구의 수명이 다할 때까지 몇 달 또는 몇 년 동안 장비를 안정적으로 유지할 수 있습니다. 타일과 렌즈 청결 장비 내부에는 정의된 흰색과 정의된 검정색이라는 두 개의 색 공간 포인트에 대한 설정이 있습니다. 애초에 공장에서 백색 교정 타일을 정의하기 위해 전체 반사율 곡선이 작성되었고, 검은색 트랩 내부의 검은색 포인트를 정의하기 위해 전체 반사율 곡선이 작성되었습니다. 흰색과 검은색의 정확한...

색상이 중요하다고 말하지만, 중요한 이유를 아세요? 사실 색상은 제조 공정에서 매우 중요한 요소입니다. 유감스럽게도 많은 제조업체는 올바른 컬러를 얻는 것이 예전보다 훨씬 어렵다는 것을 깨닫고 있으며, 그들이 거래하는 브랜드는 더 엄격한 허용오차를 충족하도록 요구하고 있습니다. 그 이유는 다음과 같습니다. 색상 기술의 발전(예: 메탈릭 포장, 펄 광택 피니시, 맞춤형 직물 및 생동감 있는 새로운 컬러)이 고객을 유혹하지만 일관성 유지 작업은 훨씬 어렵게 만듭니다. 예를 들어 복합 데크를 생각해보세요. 예전에는 회색 또는 갈색의 두 가지 선택이 있었습니다. 그리고 데크 전체에 조화가 있는 한 고객은 만족했습니다. 그러나 이제는 짙은 나뭇결 패턴과 이국적인 컬러 등 다양한 옵션이 있으므로 제조업체는 두세 가지가 아닌 수십 가지 색상을 관리해야 하며, 일관성을 유지하는 것은 훨씬 어렵습니다. 포장도 또 하나의 좋은 예입니다. 예전에는 인쇄된 상자를 배치했던 매장 진열대에 이제는 호일...

When customers are just getting started with color management, they often ask, "What is the difference between a spectrometer and a spectrophotometer?". With such a minute spelling difference, it's easy to make a quick typo and get the wrong answer for this color question. So...what's the difference? Spectrometers vs. Spectrophotometers    What is a Spectrophotometer? A spectrophotometer is a color measurement device that is used to capture and evaluate color on just about anything, in...

In this series we’ve been discussing the many factors that impact how we see color, and what we can do to ensure the color we see is accurate. Light, retinal fatigue and background effects can influence our perception of color. Today we’ll look at the limitations of the human eye and brain, and talk about how to detect these characteristics, especially for individuals responsible for evaluating and judging color. Are YOU color deficient? Read on to find out. (Spoiler alert: There’s a test at the...

There are many things that affect our ability to see color. In some cases, it doesn’t matter if the red you see is the same shade I see. A barn is a barn, right? But for those who work in an industry where color evaluation is part of the job, it IS important… VERY important. In our color perception series, we’re discussing the many factors that affect how we see color and what colorists can do to ensure that the color they see is the color they are supposed to see. Today we’ll take a closer look...

As the temperature of light changes, so does our perception of color. As I mentioned in our last post, light plays a huge role in the way we perceive color. Today we’ll look at the science of color in manufacturing and photography; specifically how an object’s reflective and absorptive properties and viewing technology can impact the colors we perceive. To reflect or not to reflect… that is the question. The colors an object absorbs and reflects is determined by its material – is it metal, plas...

How many trial and error steps does it take you to formulate a color? If you answered more than three, it might be time to enlist the help of a computerized solution. Computer-aided color formulation can bring huge benefits to your business. Out of the gate, even beginners can hit color targets faster, saving time, money and expensive colorants. Once you have established an accurate method, you can expect to match 95% of your color formula requirements within a reasonable color distance on the f...

According to autolist.com, over 80% of cars produced today are white, black, or some shade of gray. It’s not necessarily because bright and bold colors are more difficult to produce and match than their grayscale counterparts, they just take longer to get through the inspiration and car design process.  Believe it or not, producing a new auto color can take up to five years before it makes it to the showroom floor. It’s a long, tedious process for designers, paint...

There are many things that affect what we see. Optical illusions aren’t just fascinating; they teach us about how we visually perceive our surroundings. In our Color Perception Series, we shared some of the factors that affect how we see color and the impact it has on manufacturing. In honor of April Fools' Day, we’re taking a closer look at some of the ways our brain, eyes, and the environment can influence what we see. April Fool #1: Your Brain Let’s start with the power of t...

Light booths provide a controlled environment for judging color under different lighting conditions. They can help visually evaluate how different types of light will affect the perception of color, evaluate the color of raw materials before and after production, and ensure different components will remain uniform once they’re assembled.   But not all light booths are the same. With NIST traceability and ISO 17025 accreditation, X-Rite offers worldwide competence in calibration, cert...

Color measurement is used to specify, quantify, communicate, formulate, and verify color quality for color critical work. Because everyone perceives color differently, color measurement is more precise than visual evaluation.  How to Measure Color Wavelength To measure color, a color measurement device called a spectrophotometer shines light onto a sample and captures the amount of light that is transmitted or reflected in the 380 nm to 780 nm wavelength range, which is the wavelength rang...

Learn about light, reflection curves, optical brighteners, and more.     Illuminants Electro magnetic radiation in the wavelength range from 380 nm to 730 nm is seen as light by our eyes. Low wavelengths show as blue light, then the spectrum continues from green to yellow, orange, and red. UV radiation is located in the range below 380 nm; the range above 730 nm is called infrared radiation. The visual impression of a colored body changes by the composition of the incoming light. ...

2020 forced manufacturers to rethink the way they work. Around the globe, COVID put a hard stop on the travel required to approve prototypes and delayed the shipment of physical samples. Many brands started looking for ways to use digital color samples to keep production moving but struggled with the inability to replicate how a color sample would look on a prototype. The PANTORA desktop application closes this gap. With PANTORA, users can capture or import spectral samples and store, manage, vi...

COVID-19 has forced many companies to rethink the way they communicate, approve, and produce color.  For some, that means trying to conduct “business as usual” from a remote location. For others, it means finding ways to manage color without travel. Either way, we know our customers are doing everything they can to sustain business while keeping their employees healthy and safe. We want to help. Over the past few months we’ve been adding new resources to our virtual resou...

성공적인 품질관리 프로그램을 구축하기 위해서는 우수한 계측기, 강력한 소프트웨어, 숙련된 사용자가 필요합니다. 그러나, 모든 것이 갖춰져 있더라도, 색 품질을 분석하기 위해 분광측색계를 사용할 때 주의해야 하는 함정이 있습니다. x-rite Ci7800 벤치톱 분광측색계로 플라스틱 부품 측정 모습. Top 5 색상 측정 함정  1. 불량 표준 및 샘플 (Bad Standards and Samples) 물리적인 표준과 샘플은 영구적인 것이 아닙니다. 부주의한 취급과 오염된 장비들로 인해 표준과 샘플이 빠르게 손상될 수 있습니다. 다음은 불량 샘플을 피하기 위한 네 가지 팁입니다: 물리적 표준을 생성할 때 동일한 배치에서 여러 개의 샘플을 수집하여 샘플이 동일한 음영인 지 확인하십시오. 작업 중인 표준 손상 시, 폐기 후 백업 샘플로 교체하십시오. 샘플 준비 절차를 표준화, 문서화 그리...

Whether you’re producing textiles, automotive parts, or plastic pieces, color needs to remain consistent or the final product will be rejected. Unfortunately, there are many ways for color errors to creep in during manufacturing. Creating and using accurate digital color standards is one way to combat these errors. Digital color standards can be used in software to specify and communicate color, formulate colorants and raw materials, and control color quality. They give brand owners peac...

플라스틱, 코팅 또는 텍스타일 중 어느 산업군이든 오차 범위 내의 색상을 일정하게 구현 하지 못한다면, 제품이 판매처 또는 쇼룸에서 전시되기도 전에 불량품으로 판별될 수 있습니다.      이러한 사항은 자동차의 플라스틱 대시보드, 패브릭 시트, 코팅 인테리어 패널 등과 같이 브랜드가 외부 원료 공급사 또는 외부 생산업체를 이용하는 경우에 특히 더 중요합니다. 각 공급망에서 오차범위 내의 컬러를 생산하더라도, 다른 구성품들과 조립되었을 시, 색상이 매치가 되는지 전 생산과정이 모니터링 및 제어 되어야 합니다.  오늘 포스팅에서는 색상의 Quality control (품질 제어) 에서의 팁과 플라스틱, 코팅, 텍스타일 워크플로우에서 더욱 일관성 있는 컬러를 구현하도록 도울 수 있는 툴(tool)에 대하여 공유하려 합니다.    컬러 Quality Control(품질 제어)가 필요한 때    &...

No matter the industry, our customers are all working toward the same goal: Achieve accurate color and keep production moving. Even in the best conditions, color data can be a challenge to capture and share. COVID-19-related travel bans and social distancing guidelines are making it harder than ever.    Today we’ll share three easy ways to remotely share color data so you can achieve your color goals without shipping physical samples or making onsite visits. The Benefits of Digit...

Our customers who are now working remotely need to be aware that changing a small variable – such as approving color from home under a different light source, or emailing specifications instead of sending a physical sample – can introduce color issues that risk creating a larger color problem. The first and most critical stage to color control is accurate color communication. These resources will help you get started. The Importance of Color Communication Blog | Many color...

Spectrophotometers (“spectros” for short) are color measurement devices used to capture and evaluate color. As part of a color control program, brand owners and designers use them to specify and communicate color, and manufacturers use them to monitor color accuracy throughout production. Spectrophotometers can measure just about anything, including liquids, plastics, paper, metal and fabrics, and help ensure that color remains consistent from conception to delivery.   &nb...

Phone and computer screens are the window into the digital world of color, but if you are approving colors via email or text you need to be aware of the limitations.  For starters, each of your devices relies on a different color model to display color. Input devices – your camera and monitor – use the additive color model to display color. They start with darkness and add red, green, and blue light to create a spectrum of colors. Printers, on the other hand, use the s...

Does your quality control program include visual evaluation? Lighting plays a huge role in how we perceive color. It can help you verify whether the color of your product is acceptable and ensure it remains accurate in every possible lighting condition after purchase.     Many of our customers are finding visual evaluation to be even more important as they transition color reviews and approvals to a different location, such as in the home office or to another remote environmen...

So much goes into the way you perceive color, including light, genetics, the environment, human traits, and even fatigue. You may also be among the 1 in 255 women and 1 in 12 men who have some form of color vision deficiency. Our online color challenge is a fun way to better understand your color vision acuity.     Regardless of your color vision acuity, if you are communicating, evaluating, or approving color from a new location your eyes may trick you into making diff...

Color has always been a critical factor for our customers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many are now trying to design, specify, communicate and ultimately achieve accurate color from remote locations or with less staff and fewer resources. Are you having trouble maintaining your color program in this unprecedented time?  We've compiled our most popular resources – blogs, videos, whitepapers, webinars, and case studies – to help you connect with your supply chain and ...

Managing color throughout production is always a challenge, but advances in color technology, like the metallic, shimmer, and pearlescence effects designed to capture consumer attention, are taking the frustration to a whole new level for quality control managers. This is especially true when producing parts that must match at assembly, such as the metal panels for a home appliance or the painted side mirrors for a vehicle.  Special effects are tricky to control because our perception can c...

인간의 색 지각에 관한 한 사람의 눈을 속일 수 있습니다. 이는 방대한 양의 정보를 관리하고 최선을 다해 처리하는 우리 두뇌의 속성에 부분적으로 기인합니다. 유전 및 환경과도 관련될 수 있으며, 우리 모두는 색을 약간 다르게 봅니다. 하지만 무엇보다도 빛(LIGHT)은 우리가 일상에서 보는 색상에 가장 큰 영향을 미칩니다.   지나치게 기술적 설명은 피하면서, 빛이 사람의 색 지각에 미치는 영향을 소개하겠습니다. RGB Color Circle 빛의 온도 우리가 무지개(RGBIV)로 알고 있는 가시 색상 스펙트럼은 약 380~720 나노미터의 빛 파장을 가지며 빨강, 녹색 및 파랑의 3원색으로 나뉩니다. 이 세 가지 색을 다양한 조합으로 혼합하여 수백만 가지의 아름다운 색을 만들 수 있는 것이죠. 모두 같은 양으로 혼합하면 흰색으로 인식됩니다.     이것은 가색(RGB) 모델의 기초이자 인간 색각의 기초입니다.   흰색은 색이 없는 것이 아...

Durable goods and consumer electronics are no longer destined to be white, gray, and black. In fact, consumers are moving towards more classic colors and special effect finishes like metallics. To capitalize on this trend, brands need to bring innovative designs in new colors faster to market than ever before.   One trending color, the PANTONE Color of the Year 2020, is sure to capture the attention of durable good and consumer electronic brands. It is a simple, timeless, elegant, and endur...

제지, 섬유, 플라스틱, 코일 코팅 및 유리 산업을 위한 인라인 색상 측정 X-Rite의 인라인 측색 솔루션을 사용하면 다양한 산업의 제조업체가 생산 전반에 걸쳐 컬러 정확도와 일관성을 평가하고 ISO 준수 상태를 추적할 수 있습니다. 인라인 시스템은 제품이 만들어지는 동안 컬러를 모니터링하고 사양을 벗어나기 시작하면 작업자에게 경고하여 제품 낭비가 발생하기 전에 수정할 수 있게 합니다. 횡단 빔에 장착된 ERX145 분광측색계는 생산 중에 이 시트의 왼쪽, 중간 및 오른쪽을 자동으로 측정합니다. 각 X-Rite 인라인 측색 시스템은 비접촉 분광측색계와 ESWin 소프트웨어를 사용합니다. 다수의 장비가 독립형 실험실 장치로도 작동하지만, 시스템에 이동 프레임이나 로봇 팔을 포함시켜 분광측색계를 라인 위에 배치할 수 있습니다. 응용 상황 및 요구사항에 따라 X-Rite의 인라인 솔루션은 공정 제어 시스템과 통신하여 실시간 클로즈 루프 컬러 보정을 위해 컬러 측정 데이터 및 염료...

Virtual reality has re-imagined the art of apparel and footwear design. 3D design programs like MODO, KeyShot, CLO, Browzwear, Optitex, and Lectra augment the creativity of color and material designers to virtually construct patterns and render realistic 3D garments.  This is exciting technology for brands that want to reduce waste for a greener footprint and accelerate design to keep up with fast fashion. However, designers are notoriously tactile. They need to touch, feel, and gain a...

컬러리미터(색도계) 와 스펙트로포토미터(분광측색계) 는 색을 읽고 분석하고 평가하는 컬러 측정 장비입니다. 색상 측정 장비는 본래 의도했던 색상이 패키징, 플라스틱, 등에서 올바르게 나타나고 있는지 확인할 수 있도록 도움을 줍니다. 이러한 색상 측정 장비들은 겉으로 드러나지는 않지만 플라스틱, 텍스타일, 페인트, 코팅, 프린트 및 패키징 등 컬러가 중요한 산업군에서는 모두 사용됩니다.  색상 측정 장비는 크게 2가지 타입이 있습니다: 컬러리미터 (Colorimeters) & 스펙트로포토미터 (Spectrophotometers) 컬러리미터 (색도계)란?  컬러리미터는 인간이 색을 인지하는 방식을 모방한 방식으로 색을 측정합니다.  장비에서 방출하는 빛이 색을 측정해야 하는 물체의 표면에 반사되면, 장비의 RGB(빨강, 녹색, 파랑) 필터를 통과할 때의 값을 측정해 사람의 눈이 색을 보는 값에 매치(match) 합니다. &...

Inter-instrument agreement is a very important consideration when selecting color measurement devices for your workflow. Unfortunately, it’s such a technical topic that it leads to a lot of confusion about what it means and why it’s important. The Ci7860 sphere benchtop spectrophotomter is has an inter-instrument agreement specification of 0.06 average Delta E*, enabling brands to create the most precise master color standards. Today we’re making it as simple as possibl...

Your customer rejected your latest shipment due to color.  You checked the color before you sent it and it passed tolerance…  You did everything the same way last time and it passed tolerance…  So why did it get rejected now? We get this question from our customers all the time.  The Dreaded “Error Stack” Color rejections create waste and increase production costs. Unfortunately, there are a lot of variables that contribute to the color you produce,...

For the last few Decembers, we’ve provided you with a list of “top color measurement blogs” for that respective year. As we reviewed this year’s list, we noticed that your favorite/ the most-read blogs could be categorized into a few buckets. So, without further ado, here’s 2018’s top blog topics!  2018’s Most Popular Color Measurement Topic: Tolerancing Not to our team’s surprise, Tolerancing – what it is/what it means for your busines...

Each year, Pantone announces its highly anticipated “Color of the Year”. The selection is intended to serve as a strategic direction for design and color-conscious industries as well as a conversation piece around our culture, where it is going and what we collectively need…and it certainly gets everyone talking about color!  Color is no longer just something we see and appreciate - it enhances and influences the way we experience life. Color, as a strategic element of d...

위도, 경도, 고도 등의 지리적 좌표와 같이 컬러 또한  L*a*b* 값을 사용하여, 정확한 색상 값을 지정하고 그것을 기반으로 커뮤니케이션을 할 수 있습니다. What’s the history of L*a*b*? 1940년대에, Richard Hunter박사는 3차원 공간 모델인 Lab을 개발하였습니다. 이 LAB 모델은 인식된 색상 차이를 동일한 공간영역으로 나타내기 위해 구성되었습니다. 31년후, CIE는 Hunter’s Lab의 업데이트 버전인 CIELab을 발표했습니다. CIELab을 올바르게 읽는 방법은 “see-lab” 또는 “L-star, a-star, b-star,” 이지만, 일부의 색상측정 장비나 어플리케이션은 간략화 하여 L,A,B 또는 Lab이라고 표기하기도 합니다. What does L*a*b* stand for?  어떠한 식으로 CIElab을 부르던, 더 중요한 것은 L*a...

Warm weather is just around the corner and spring is in the air!   Fluffy yellow chicks…   Delicate pink tulips…   Soft green sprouts poking through the ground…   And, of course, spring M&M'S®! Advertisers target our springtime emotions through pastel colors. Pastels have a calming effect, and everywhere you look companies are using them to feed our desire to feel a bit of spring. Today we’ll take a look at the psychology of color, how marke...

Using a light booth to visually judge color is a great start to a successful color evaluation program. It allows you predict how color will look under multiple light sources so there won’t be any color surprises when the light changes over the life of the product. Introducing a color measurement device to capture spectral data is the next logical step. For a really great color program, you need to use both a light booth AND a spectrophotometer. This dynamic duo offers benefits you can&rsqu...

Recently we blogged about how appearance affects color. In this article we look at some of the characteristics that impact an object’s appearance, such as texture, gloss, transparency, and special effects, and explain why it’s crucial to describe appearance in the early stages of the design workflow.  While 3D programs have attempted to address appearance aspects for years, there has been a missing link in virtual product design: the ability to integrate characteristically &ldqu...

Whether purchasing a new car, consumer electronics, or household appliances, color consistency influences the perception of quality. If the color doesn’t match from front-to-back and side-to-side, customers will likely question the quality and move on. That’s where color measurement can help. In today’s competitive marketplace, manufacturers are going beyond color to utilize extreme effect finishes to differentiate their products. But, as manufacturers are quickly learning, me...

Appearance is more than simply color. It’s a comprehensive look at everything inherent to each unique material we come in contact with, including texture, gloss, transparency, and special effects. Each of these characteristics plays a part and has an effect on overall appearance and understanding in relation to a single material. Objects may have several elements that affect appearance, such as the material’s surface texture, construction, overall geometry and micro-surface. The environ...

Color is our perception of reflected light across the visible spectrum. When light hits an object, it absorbs some rays and reflect others. The color of light that reflects back into our eyes is the color we perceive. The more light an object absorbs, the darker it appears. With black, very little light is reflected. Pure black in the presence of light wasn’t achieved until 2014 when Surrey NanoSystems announced the invention of Vantablack. This high-tech artificial substance absorbs 99....

We frequently get calls from customers who can’t figure out why their measurements vary, even when they’re using maintained devices. Why would a sample read one way one day, then slightly different another? Many times the culprit is thermochromaticity, and it becomes an even bigger problem as the seasons change. Every kind of material changes color with temperature. These changes cause the material to exhibit a shift in reflected wavelengths of light, which can alter our perception....

Have you ever sent out a job that passed your inspection, only to have the customer reject it for out-of-tolerance color? You recheck the data and the instrument says the color passed the agreed tolerance… why is the customer saying it doesn’t? We get a LOT of these conflicting measurement calls in technical support. The solution is simple – document a color control program that clearly defines how to assess color, then make sure everyone (including your customer) follow...

If you recently invested in a spectrophotometer or colorimeter, you know there’s a lot more to learn about color measurement than just how to use your new device. To help you begin exploring the exciting world of color, we’ve compiled seven blogs that explain how to set up your color measurement device, care for it, and use it to its maximum potential. 5 Tips for Setting Up Your Spectrophotometer Using a spectrophotometer (“spectro” for short) to measure color doesn...

Did you read our blog: Are You Using The Right Tolerancing Method? If not, check it out. Today we’re taking the topic one step further to investigate how tolerances are chosen in different industries. A pass-fail tolerance is the amount of color variation that is considered commercially acceptable. In part, tolerances are driven by customer expectations. While color tolerances are very tight in the automotive, plastics, and paint & coatings worlds, they can be much less strict in other...

Consistent color is a journey. A few weeks ago I blogged about the most common pitfalls people run into when starting a color program… Wrong lighting Less-than-perfect color vision Inaccurate physical standards Inconsistent device color measurement …And introduced some inexpensive color tools to help overcome them.   But the journey doesn’t stop there. Even if you’ve been successfully managing color for years, advances in inks, dyes, and substrates are introducing new challen...

At X-Rite Pantone, we pride ourselves on our ability to help customers specify, communicate, formulate, and produce consistent color. You’re probably familiar with our major markets, like plastics, industrial coatings, and print & packaging. You may also be aware of the more “common” things we measure, like paint, printed surfaces, and textiles. But, as you look for the emergency exit on a plane, watch a butterfly float by, or choose the freshest package of cheese from the ...

At X-Rite Pantone, we love color, and we’re passionate about helping you get yours right. That’s why we offer a full-service training program, staffed with Color Experts from many of the industries we serve. From beginner to advanced, lowest investment to highest return, we offer a variety of options to teach you everything you need to know to be successful. Are you new to color, wondering where it fits in your business objectives? Do you already have a color workflow, but ...

As we close out 2016, it’s time to look ahead to 2017 and the upcoming manufacturing trends that will influence how we do business in the New Year. With rapidly changing technology, it’s difficult to know exactly what’s coming next, but we can definitely make some predictions. Over the past year, I have interviewed many customers across a variety of manufacturing industries to learn more about their industry concerns, the design and manufacturing challenges they face, and the t...

Our color measurement devices are used by designers, brand owners, formulators, printers, and manufacturers around the world. Ranging from portable handheld devices, to large benchtop instruments, to spectrophotometers mounted inline, they can measure just about anything to help formulate and maintain a perfect color match. Many of our customers, especially those in the paint industry, are asked to color match some pretty interesting things, and we love to hear about them. We recently asked 40 p...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! A time to reminisce… to celebrate our successes, and to explore areas that may need a little more attention in 2017. If color accuracy is on your list of things to improve, this article is for you. We’ve compiled a list of the blogs our readers found most helpful and interesting in 2016, so you can start working toward your goal of more accurate color in the New Year. Did your favorite blog make the list? Top 10 X-Rite Blogs of 2016 ...

When judging color, background can be a major distraction for the human eye. In fact, surrounding colors and patterns can actually change the perception of the color you’re trying to focus on. One of the wonderful things about color measurement instruments like colorimeters and spectrophotometers is that they can’t be distracted. They aren’t susceptible to variables such as fatigue, age or color vision deficiency. They aren’t even aware that a surround exists – they...

In color production, mistakes can happen anytime, anywhere… during specification, formulation, manufacturing, assembly, quality control, or (unfortunately) all of the above. Every mistake adds up to wasted time and materials, and stacking errors across a production workflow can get expensive very quickly. How can you stop this error stack from happening? If your job requires you to get color right, spectral data should be your best friend. One of our favorite eLearning courses to help customers...

Spectrophotometers are instruments that measure color. Manufacturers use them in every industry where accurate color is important, from paint and plastics to textiles, packaging, and even food. The data captured by spectros allow designers, brand owners, manufacturers, and quality control professionals to precisely communicate color and ensure it stays accurate throughout production. Sometimes I’m asked which color is the hardest to measure and control. Can you guess what it is? Overly s...

Tim Mouw is our Manager of Applications Engineering & Technical Support for the Americas. Tim is so knowledgeable about the impact of color in many industries, and his stories always intrigue us. Tim has authored many X-Rite Pantone blogs, including: What is metamerism, and why should you care? Effective ways to measure reflective surfaces What’s sabotaging your sustainability efforts? 5 color evaluation pitfalls to avoid Why is controlling color so hard? We recently sat down with him to...