MULTI-ANGLE INSTRUMENTS

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Multi-angle instruments have one or more light sources, which are aimed at the sample. The device may have detectors at several angles, may use fiber optics to send light from several angles, or use fiber optics or other optical devices to obtain the reflective light from the sample at several angles. Almost all of the interest in multi-angle color measurements have been for colored materials with metallic flake or pearlescent pigments.

The computer data taken from several angles is usually analyzed in terms of color difference. The question of setting up tolerances at several angles and how to weigh the results has proven a challenge. Standard color difference formulas are used for multi-angle color measurement analysis.

Color mixing prediction works for multi-angle color measurements of metallics and pearl materials if you have a known mixture and have some history of how the materials develop color mixtures. A combination of standard color mixing technology and artificial intelligence based on real color matching experience shows good results for automotive refinishing applications. Predictions of new color mixes with multi-angle data based on metallic and pearlescent pigments have not been commercially successful to date.