X-Rite Color Blog

In the fast-paced world of print and packaging, achieving precise color accuracy is a critical challenge. Whether you're matching brand colors, controlling ink density, or ensuring quality consistency, selecting the right color measurement instrument can make all the difference. Understanding Color Measurement Instruments Selecting the right instrument for your print operation depends on factors such as production environment, measurement requirements, and industry standards. There are several ...

  Embracing Eco-Friendly Solutions for a Brighter Tomorrow In today's rapidly evolving world, sustainability has become a critical focus for manufacturers across various industries. As consumers become more environmentally conscious, the demand for sustainable practices in manufacturing has surged. This shift towards sustainability not only benefits the planet but also enhances business operations, leading to long-term success and resilience. One area where sustainability is making signific...

5 Things That Could Go Wrong Without an Automotive Spectrophotometer An automotive spectrophotometer is a critical tool in the automotive industry, especially when it comes to automotive color control. These advanced devices ensure that paint colors are precisely matched, consistently applied, and meet the required standards for automotive finishes. Without an automotive spectrophotometer, several issues can arise that impact the quality, efficiency, and overall satisfaction of vehicle paint jo...

Why Backward Compatibility in Spectrophotometers Is Key to Consistent Color If you’re here, chances are you rely on a benchtop spectrophotometer to keep your color quality on point. From textiles and plastics to paint, coatings, and more, these high-precision instruments are critical to maintain consistency in your processes. At X-Rite, we engineer our spectrophotometers to perform reliably for years, even in the toughest environments. But no instrument lasts forever, and eventually, an ...

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...

Companies use optical brightening agents (OBAs), also called Fluorescent Whitening Agents (FWAs), to give their products a brighter, whiter appearance. Although adding OBAs creates a brighter product, the addition of these chemicals fundamentally alters the way the color is seen, which makes it impossible to accurately evaluate color by eye. Materials and fabrics that contain OBAs may appear similar in production under factory lighting, but those same products can look much different under othe...

Color plays a major role in our food choices. Many foods like Swiss cheese, strawberries, broccoli, and mashed potatoes always look the same. We know what to expect when we take our first bite. But what if your mashed potatoes were green? Would they taste different? Would you even try them? Why Color Analysis is Important for the Food Industry   There has been a lot of research about the role color plays in how we perceive and even taste food. These studies show that our judgment of f...

Whether you’re choosing colors for a brand, creating palettes for a new product line, or designing seasonal packaging, inspiration is a key step in color selection. Inspiration can come from normal, everyday places, for example: A party. The grocery store. Sporting events. And of course, the great outdoors. Mother Nature has a knack for creating the most beautiful color palettes. “Colors for Autumn/Winter 2022/2023 contrast our competing desires for calm and comfort with energy boost...

Why Calibrate Your Spectrophotometer? For the most part, today’s color measurement instruments are 100% digital. In fact, there are very few analog components inside, except for the light bulbs. Although they’re more stable than their analog predecessors, their tolerances are much narrower, and they need regular spectrophotometer calibration to stay within these tight specs. Bulb Stability As you use your instrument and the bulb turns on and off, it starts to change its character. S...

You say color is important, but do you know why it’s so important? In reality, color is a critical element in the manufacturing process. Unfortunately, many manufacturers are realizing that getting color right is much harder than it used to be, and the brands they support are asking them to meet tighter tolerances. Here’s why. While advances in color technology – think metallic packaging, pearlescent finishes, custom fabrics and vibrant new colors – entice customers, the...