Color digitization

Throughout the years of development of the automotive industry, each of us has seen hundreds of different paint colors: crystal red, deep black, vanilla, canary yellow, and white. However, not all whites are the same, and with the development of the paint industry, we can find hundreds of shades of white. To correctly determine the color of a color, it is no longer enough to take a look, take a photo, or choose something similar that we already know. In quality assurance, color measurement and spectrophotometry are essential to determine the consistency and accuracy of a product's color, whether the measurement is for industry, textiles and automotive, or the wide range of variants in food production, pharmaceuticals, plastics and chemical manufacturing.

The process of quantifying (digitizing) color is complex, but it is also objective and measurable, contributing to a future in which precision will be constantly improved, digital document flow will be seamlessly integrated, and safe, reliable products will remain the number one priority.

Color measurement today and in the future?

Color can be seen as the use of an instrument, a spectrophotometer, to provide an objective description of color under the conditions we create. These objective descriptions can then be used for quality control - comparing the color of one sample with the color we want to achieve, without worrying about differences in color perception. In other cases, the objective color description is used to formulate recipes to reproduce a specific color and also to improve it based on the ingredients already used.

Color measurement is an aspect of quality assurance and quality control used to detect specific parameters of each pigment used. The aim is to quantify the color of the product in the color space and to compare paints according to a known standard (CIELab) for dE (delta E) purposes, which determines how close we are to our designated color and what more we can do with it.

At the moment, the most important thing is to create a database with the necessary measurements so that we can compare colors with each other. The lower the dE, the closer we are to our goal. It can be assumed that a standard observer notices a color difference as follows:

•     0 < dE < 1 - does not notice the difference,
•     1 < dE < 2 – only an experienced observer notices the difference,
•     1 < dE < 2 – only an experienced observer notices the difference,
•     3.5 < dE < 5 – a clear color difference is perceived,
•     5 < dE – the observer gets the impression of two different colors.

This is especially important when two elements of the same color are combined, creating color harmonies and achieving the designer's aesthetic intentions. If a side mirror or car bumper does not match the exterior of the vehicle, our subconscious works, and we consider these elements to be defective rather than in color harmony. And here we come to the next topic.

Why is color measurement important?

Color control and color measurement are an important part of a company's quality control for several reasons. In some industries, such as food and beverage, color sells the product. This is no different in the automotive industry.
Color harmony is one of the main factors influencing the consumer's perception of quality. As discovered in a study conducted by the Seoul International Color Expo in 2004, color and appearance are among the most important factors in the consumer's decision-making process.

Where is color measurement heading?

A new world of color measurement is opening up: the technology of automation of color processes, in which we are able to precisely determine the color parameters of the paint with the help of a spectrophotometer. The process of correcting the color in renovation painting with traditional methods takes a very long time. Tinting paints, trial spraying, and then further corrections to the formulas take a lot of time and can be imprecise. Thanks to the tools provided by the market, process optimization is significant and saves time and money in the long run. Products such as spectrophotometers with the option of automatic recipe correction (e.g. spectrophotometer by Profix) allow for a measurable reduction in working time. However, the device will never replace the experience of a colorist, as automatic recipe correction is carried out within the range of existing components of a given recipe. 

The implemented technologies for automating color processes in Profix color selection system solutions provide real-time color data using a formulation program and a Cloud application. This enables process supervision, qualitative and quantitative control of ingredients, accurate database searching and intuitive spectrophotometer software.

All measurements of pigment samples are carried out in the laboratory using state-of-the-art spectrophotometers, which enable the measurement of the reflected or transmitted color of the sample. Measurements on such a device ensure the highest quality of reproduction of a similar process at the customer's site on other spectrophotometer models. Thanks to technological progress, which enables the design and manufacture of smaller devices and takes up less space on the production line, the aforementioned Profix spectrophotometer has been adapted to work without requiring a special cover to close the ambient lighting, providing better functions, performance and being more cost-effective than other solutions available on the market. Benefits include improved productivity, reduced operator errors, and lower quality costs – pigment residues and customer service costs associated with a defective product.

How are the goals changing?

In the past, the goal of color measurement was narrow, primarily to understand the color properties of a particular sample or product and how it compares to a standard. Today, it is about understanding the process so that it can be improved. The ability to collect data at multiple points throughout the workflow and share data across an organization or supply chain in which it operates is critical in helping companies streamline processes, reduce operating costs, improve productivity, and enhance customer networks.

Today, we have color measurement instruments that use modern technologies such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for remote data transmission and enable seamless integration into the user's digital workflow environment with access to the formulation program.