How to measure spice samples with the MetaVue VS3200
Evaluating spice color presents unique challenges due to variations in texture, grinding methods, and color intensity. Traditional contact-based devices risk contamination and inaccurate readings, especially with powdery or pasty spices. The MetaVue VS3200 spectrophotometer offers a non-contact solution, providing precise color measurements despite pigment variance in spice samples, without compromising sample integrity or risking equipment damage.
Challenges
Spices pose difficulties for traditional spectrophotometers to accurately read compared to other color sources. Fortunately, the MetaVue VS3200 is designed to meet the challenges posed by these vibrant powders and deliver sound color evaluations.
- Spices exhibit different colors in their whole form compared to when they are ground into coarse or fine powders or pastes. These diverse color profiles are further influenced by maturity and processing stages. Traditional devices struggle to capture accurate readings due to variations in texture and color intensity.
- Spices play a crucial role in food preparation, leaving no room for sample contamination that could compromise the safety of the final product. Government agencies like the USDA, FDA, and EPA have established stringent inspection requirements to ensure safety compliance, which must be rigorously upheld during the quality control process.
- Additionally, some spices, like paprika, have specific color standards established by organizations like the ASTA. Adherence to these standards requires precise measurement techniques.
Solution
The MetaVue VS3200’s Smart Spot feature enhances precise color measurement by evaluating all pixels and eliminating shadows and irrelevant areas, ensuring accurate readings despite texture and color variations. Unlike other spectrophotometers that provide average results, it reduces inaccuracies and production delays.
The non-contact evaluation feature is ideal for assessing delicate materials, minimizing the risk of contamination and equipment damage. Designed for spice color evaluation, the MetaVue offers proprietary software compatibility, an adjustable stand, and customizable trays, ensuring accurate readings across spice types and processing stages, optimizing efficiency and precision.
Results
When used for non-contact color evaluations on spices, the MetaVue VS3200:
- Provides optimal initial color matches.
- Standardizes lighting and viewing with its “Smart Spot” tool.
- Ensures accurate color readings, complying with ASTA standards.
- Achieves precise color measurements despite interference pigments.
- Consistently measures against a standard and ensures a color quality audit trail.
- Eliminates subjectivity in pass/fail decision making, reducing human error and waste.
- Shortens time to market and improves overall product quality.
How It Works
- Position the sample under the MetaVue VS3200 or use an accessory to present the sample.
- Using MetaVue's on-screen targeting through Color iQC software, adjust the measurement size between 2mm and 12mm.
- Choose to average all visible colors like a standard spectrophotometer or enable the Smart Spot feature to choose the exact spot to measure. This will evaluate all pixels and eliminate the shadows and areas that are not part of the color.
- Take the measurement and evaluate the on-screen preview, measurement data, and graphs to determine whether the sample is in tolerance.
- Use Color iQC to create portable jobs that embed the measurement data so anyone who opens the job can review where and how the measurement was taken.
- Capture an image of the actual measurement to store along with measurement settings for an automatic audit trail.
Featured Products
A non-contact benchtop spectrophotometer with digital on-screen targeting and aperture sizes ranging from 2mm to 12mm to capture precise measurements on powdered spice samples.
Quality control software that works with MetaVue™ VS3200 to pinpoint the precise measurement spot, determine whether a measurement is in tolerance, and store image samples and settings for an audit trail.
Formulation software that works with MetaVue™ VS3200 to formulate colorant recipes and create formulation databases that can be cross-referenced with standards established by organizations like the ASTA.
A cloud-based blend of software and color standards to validate color measurement instrument performance. If accuracy has drifted, NetProfiler can adjust the instrument to bring it back into better agreement or notify that service is required.
MetaVue VS3200 Adjustable Stand
Allows the MetaVue™ VS3200 to be raised or lowered to a desired height for use in environments that measure a wide variety of sample types.
Achieve Spice Color Excellence
With the MetaVue VS3200 spectrophotometer and specialized software like Color iMatch and Color iQC, precise spice color measurements are attainable. From assessing raw spice maturity to monitoring color consistency during processing, the MetaVue VS3200 facilitates quality control and ensures product integrity. By adhering to industry standards, spice manufacturers can maintain quality, enhance product appeal, and meet consumer expectations effectively.
