Interested in a little light reading?

Light and color measurement processes use many types of equipment — radiometers, spectrometers, spectroradiometers, and spectrophotometers. While all four solutions are used to measure electromagnetic energy, they vary widely in their capabilities, applications, and intended purposes. It’s important to know and understand the differences between these solutions to determine which one will adequately serve your needs.

Radiometer vs. Spectrometer vs. Spectroradiometer vs. Spectrophotometer

These devices have similar names and are used to measure spectral data points and wavelengths within the electromagnetic spectrum. Despite this similarity, they have varying scopes regarding the types and qualities of measurements they produce.

Radiometers can only detect and measure electromagnetic radiation within a particular wavelength range. Spectrometers measure a broader scale of electromagnetic energy and have more capabilities, including breaking down signals based on amplitude. Spectrometers are a larger category under which other devices like spectroradiometers and spectrophotometers fall. 

In comparing spectroradiometers vs. spectrometers, the main difference is that spectroradiometers combine the capabilities of radiometers and spectrometers. These devices also collect details about power, radiance, and other metrics.

Spectrophotometers measure the amplitude of light reflected or transmitted by a sample, which can then be used to calculate the exact color. Unlike the other tools, spectrophotometers focus on how transmitted and reflected light generates color rather than on the qualities of the light itself.

What Is a Radiometer?

A radiometer measures the electromagnetic energy present in a specific wavelength range. This solution is typically used to detect and quantify energy outside the visible light spectrum and measure infrared and ultraviolet light. The radiometer begins by measuring the incoming current or voltage in watts, then corrects the signal to create a calibrated, quantitative light level measurement. With this information, the meter provides one reading over the specific wavelength range it is designed to measure.

Pros and Cons of Radiometers
Radiometers are inexpensive and portable, making them a cost-effective and practical choice. This solution can identify troublesome UV energy and detect and measure heat energy on surfaces. It also has one sensor that allows it to quickly measure all intended wavelengths.

However, radiometers cannot identify emitted wavelengths or their individual amplitude. Sometimes, variations exist in the filter used to match the light source, which creates difficulty when comparing results from radiometers of different manufacturers. Also, radiometers only measure a particular range of wavelengths, unlike other tools. 

Applications

Radiometers' ability to detect the presence of UV energy makes them valuable tools for any application where it is undesirable, such as museum lighting. In this atmosphere, UV energy could degrade artifacts or artwork.

The device also measures infrared light, enabling surface temperature measurements in settings such as along an assembly line or on a road's surface. Other applications include monitoring weather, like precipitation and wind speeds

I am a member of what people call the “sandwich generation.” I’ve spent the past decade caring for my own family while looking out for the needs of my aging parents. My father is now 92, and his cardiologist and I have gotten to know each other pretty well over the past several years as we refine his medications.

I realized how important the shape, size, and color of prescription pills were one morning a few months ago. Feeling not quite right, my dad had gone to his pill box to survey his daily dosage—and realized that his regular heart pill looked wrong. After calling his doctor, he headed to the emergency room, where the medical staff determined that an error had occurred when his prescription was filled. His medication dosage had nearly tripled, and if it weren’t for that differently colored pill, my dad might not have caught the change in time.

Prescription pill shape, size, and color all play a significant role in patient identification and safety. Image Source: Flickr user Ly Thien Hoang (Lee) (CC BY 2.0)

Pertenezco a lo que la gente llama la "generación sándwich". He pasado la última década cuidando de mi propia familia al tiempo que velaba por las necesidades de mis padres ancianos. Mi padre tiene ahora 92 años, y su cardiólogo y yo hemos llegado a conocernos bastante bien en los últimos años mientras afinábamos su medicación.

Una mañana, hace unos meses, me di cuenta de lo importantes que eran la forma, el tamaño y el color de las pastillas recetadas. Mi padre no se sentía del todo bien, así que fue a su pastillero para revisar su dosis diaria y se dio cuenta de que su pastilla habitual para el corazón no tenía el aspecto adecuado. Después de llamar a su médico, se dirigió a urgencias, donde el personal médico determinó que se había producido un error al surtir su receta. Su dosis de medicación casi se había triplicado y, si no hubiera sido por esa pastilla de color diferente, mi padre no se habría dado cuenta del cambio a tiempo.

La forma, el tamaño y el color de las pastillas recetadas desempeñan un papel importante en la identificación y la seguridad del paciente. Fuente de la imagen: Usuario de Flickr Ly Thien Hoang (Lee) (CC BY 2.0)

Consumers are increasingly looking for broad spectrum protection that prevents damage from both UVA and UVB rays. Image Source: Unsplash user Tomas Salas

When I was growing up, sunscreen bottles were still color coded according to how tanned you wanted to get; bottles of SPF 4 were a deep brown for those who planned on getting darker color while more conservative users opted for the lighter packaging of SPF 10. The true sun-worshippers, of course, would forgo sunscreen altogether, choosing instead to slather on baby oil to attract rays.

Today, sunscreen choice is a very different matter. As our understanding of the impact sun radiation has on our bodies has grown, the vast majority of consumers are no longer considering the tanning potential of sunscreens, but prioritizing the level of skin cancer protection and anti-aging benefits they provide. As sunscreen has become an everyday health and beauty essential, the sunscreen market has expanded exponentially; as noted in Cosmetics Business Market, “The global sun care market is proving to be a red hot category, with new data from Euromonitor forecasting growth of 6.8% in 2018.”1

However, the consumers aren’t just demanding higher levels of sun protection; they also want expanded formulation options and diverse applications. “In today’s beauty market, where multifunctionality is key, sun care products are expected to offer skin nourishment and anti-aging ingredients as well as UV protection, while skin care and color cosmetics products are expected to offer UV protection.” At the same time, consumers are demanding higher quality, cosmetically elegant, scientifically proven products with accurate sun protection claims, creating both new opportunities and new challenges for cosmetics manufacturers. To keep up with these market demands, spectrophotometric determination of UV protection in cosmetic products is becoming more essential than ever before.

Broad spectrum protection is becoming more attractive to educated consumers who understand the dangers of UVA and UVB rays. Image Source: Pexels user Wendy Hero

Los consumidores buscan cada vez más una protección de amplio espectro que prevenga los daños de los rayos UVA y UVB. Fuente de la imagen: Unsplash usuario Tomas Salas

Cuando yo era pequeña, los envases de los protectores solares todavía tenían un código de colores según el grado de bronceado que quisieras conseguir; los envases de SPF 4 eran de color marrón oscuro para los que planeaban ponerse más morenos, mientras que los usuarios más conservadores optaban por el envase más claro de SPF 10. Los verdaderos adoradores del sol, por supuesto, renunciaban por completo al protector solar y optaban por untarse aceite de bebé para atraer los rayos. Los verdaderos adoradores del sol, por supuesto, renunciaban por completo a la protección solar y optaban por untarse aceite de bebé para atraer los rayos.

Hoy en día, la elección de un protector solar es una cuestión muy diferente. A medida que hemos ido comprendiendo mejor el impacto de la radiación solar en nuestro cuerpo, la gran mayoría de los consumidores ya no tienen en cuenta el potencial bronceador de los protectores solares, sino que dan prioridad al nivel de protección contra el cáncer de piel y a los beneficios antienvejecimiento que proporcionan. A medida que la protección solar se ha convertido en un producto esencial de salud y belleza para el día a día, el mercado de los protectores solares se ha expandido exponencialmente; como se señala en Cosmetics Business Market, "el mercado mundial del cuidado solar está demostrando ser una categoría al rojo vivo, con nuevos datos de Euromonitor que prevén un crecimiento del 6,8% en 2018."1

Sin embargo, los consumidores no sólo exigen mayores niveles de protección solar, sino también más opciones de formulación y diversas aplicaciones. "En el mercado de la belleza actual, donde la multifuncionalidad es clave, se espera que los productos de protección solar ofrezcan ingredientes nutritivos para la piel y antienvejecimiento, además de protección UV, mientras que los productos de cuidado de la piel y cosméticos de color ofrecen protección UV." Al mismo tiempo, los consumidores exigen productos de mayor calidad, cosméticamente elegantes, científicamente probados y con declaraciones precisas de protección solar, lo que crea tanto nuevas oportunidades como nuevos retos para los fabricantes de cosméticos. Para estar a la altura de estas demandas del mercado, la determinación espectrofotométrica de la protección UV en los productos cosméticos es más esencial que nunca.

La protección de amplio espectro es cada vez más atractiva para los consumidores informados que comprenden los peligros de los rayos UVA y UVB. Fuente de la imagen: Pexels user Wendy Hero

Die Verbraucher suchen zunehmend nach einem Breitspektrumschutz, der Schäden durch UVA- und UVB-Strahlen verhindert. Bildquelle: Unsplash Benutzer Tomas Salas

Als ich aufwuchs, waren Sonnenschutzmittelflaschen noch farblich gekennzeichnet, je nachdem, wie braun man werden wollte; Flaschen mit LSF 4 waren tiefbraun für diejenigen, die eine dunklere Farbe anstrebten, während konservativere Anwender sich für die hellere Verpackung mit LSF 10 entschieden. Die wahren Sonnenanbeter verzichteten natürlich ganz auf Sonnenschutzmittel und trugen stattdessen Babyöl auf, um die Strahlen anzuziehen.

Heute ist die Wahl des Sonnenschutzmittels eine ganz andere Sache. Da unser Wissen über die Auswirkungen der Sonnenstrahlung auf unseren Körper gewachsen ist, achtet die große Mehrheit der Verbraucher nicht mehr auf das Bräunungspotenzial von Sonnenschutzmitteln, sondern vor allem auf den Schutz vor Hautkrebs und den Anti-Aging-Effekt, den sie bieten. Da Sonnenschutzmittel zu einem alltäglichen Gesundheits- und Schönheitsmittel geworden sind, ist der Markt für Sonnenschutzmittel exponentiell gewachsen; wie im Cosmetics Business Market vermerkt, "erweist sich der globale Sonnenpflegemarkt als eine brandheiße Kategorie, wobei neue Daten von Euromonitor ein Wachstum von 6,8 % im Jahr 2018 prognostizieren."1

Die Verbraucher verlangen jedoch nicht nur einen höheren Sonnenschutz, sondern auch erweiterte Formulierungsmöglichkeiten und vielfältige Anwendungen. "Auf dem heutigen Schönheitsmarkt, wo Multifunktionalität der Schlüssel ist, wird von Sonnenpflegeprodukten erwartet, dass sie neben UV-Schutz auch Hautpflege- und Anti-Aging-Wirkstoffe bieten, während von Hautpflege- und Farbkosmetikprodukten erwartet wird, dass sie UV-Schutz bieten." Gleichzeitig verlangen die Verbraucher qualitativ hochwertigere, kosmetisch elegante, wissenschaftlich geprüfte Produkte mit genauen Angaben zum Sonnenschutz, was den Kosmetikherstellern sowohl neue Möglichkeiten als auch neue Herausforderungen bietet. Um mit diesen Marktanforderungen Schritt zu halten, ist die spektralphotometrische Bestimmung des UV-Schutzes in kosmetischen Produkten wichtiger denn je.

Der Breitspektrumschutz wird für aufgeklärte Verbraucher, die die Gefahren von UVA- und UVB-Strahlen kennen, immer attraktiver. Bildquelle: Pexels-Benutzer Wendy Hero

Combining the nicotine patch with other nicotine replacement products can significantly increase success rates for those who want to quit smoking. Image Source: Pexels user Redd Angelo

No one ever says they’re happy they started smoking. In fact, 70% of smokers report that they want to stop and each year nearly half of all smokers make at least one attempt to quit tobacco.1 Unfortunately, only about 4-7% of people are able to quit on their own, a testament to the addictive power of cigarettes.2 However, when nicotine replacement therapy is used to help smokers quit, that success rate jumps to approximately 30%.

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) work by providing nicotine in controlled amounts, minimizing the withdrawal symptoms associated with physical dependence while the user makes behavioral changes to fortify recovery. While historically, users have typically been instructed to pick one type of nicotine replacement product and use it for a short duration—often only up to 12 weeks—new research is providing strong evidence that extended use of NRT and combining nicotine replacement products can significantly increase success rates.

A 2010 study, for example, found that smokers who wore a 21mg nicotine patch for 24 weeks as opposed to 8 weeks were 63% more likely to remain smoke-free at the end of the 24 weeks.3 “There’s nothing magical about 24 weeks,” says Jonathan Foulds, director of the Tobacco Dependence Program at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. “The point is that staying on [NRT] helps you stay off cigarettes—and, it seems, the longer the better.” Researchers have also found that combining the nicotine patch with short-acting products such as the nicotine lozenge, gum, or spray augment success rates. According to a study conducted at the University of Wisconsin’s Transdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Center, combination therapy led to abstinence rates as high as 40% at the six-month follow-up interviews.4 This rate was higher than even bupropion used in combination with the lozenge.

Nicotine patches—the most popular type of NRT—form the foundation of combination therapies due to their unique delivery system. Optimizing user success rates, however, requires close quality control monitoring by manufacturers and rapid, repeatable methods for the determination of nicotine levels.

Unlike short-acting forms of NTR like the gum or lozenges, the patch delivers a constant supply of nicotine to help users avoid acute withdrawal. Image Source: Flickr user See-ming Lee