What Is the Best Way to Measure the Color of Plastics?

Modern consumers have endless opportunities to choose products from your competition. Product consistency matters, and a visual inspection is no longer enough to gauge it. To appeal to the most discerning customers, your products need a precise, uniform appearance — and you need an accurate color measurement tool to ensure that's the case.

The Benefits of Spectrophotometers

Spectrophotometers measure light transmittance or reflectance from plastics, foods, drinks, and other materials. They eliminate the guesswork of visual evaluations and variable observation conditions, such as lighting, that affect the way we see color.

Using a spectrophotometer enhances a brand's identity by associating specific colors with its products. Inconsistent coloring can confuse consumers, leaving them more likely to choose a competitor's option over yours. The more consistent your products are, the more likely a consumer is to stay committed to your brand.

HunterLab's Spectrophotometers for Plastic Color Measurement

HunterLab's suite of spectrophotometers is home to some of the leading tools for plastic color measurement. You'll find solutions like these in our selection:

• Agera: This tool offers excellent measurement capabilities, including color and gloss for sheet plastic, plaques, vinyl siding, opaque plastic film, and pellets.

• ColorFlex L2: The next-gen ColorFlex L2 is a feature-rich benchtop spectrophotometer with a compact footprint and also complies with ANSI Z535.1.
• MiniScan EZ 4500: This handheld portable spectrophotometer is compliant with ANSI Z535.1 and is ideal for capturing measurements anywhere.
• SpectraTrend HT: This spectrophotometer offers measurements in real time so you can continuously measure products as they pass through.
• UltraScan PRO: This device is ideal if you work with ophthalmic lenses. The UltraScan PRO collects data every 5 nanometers so you can ensure every part of your plastic is the correct color.
• UltraScan VIS: This instrument measures reflectance, transmittance, and haze. Transmittance and haze can be measured simultaneously.
• Vista: This solution is ideal for measuring the color of transparent to translucent plastic preforms, and color and haze of transparent and translucent plastics and films.

Best Practices for Spectrophotometer Use

Once you decide on the right solution for your plastic coloration measurements, you can start making more precise measurements and transforming the way you color your plastic. These tips may help you adjust to the learning curve as you begin working with a HunterLab spectrophotometer:

• Follow all device-specific guidelines.
• Standardize the device regularly to ensure color accuracy.
• Keep the device and the area around it as clear as possible and clean the surface as necessary. 
• Use gloves for better sample handling.

How Precise Color Measurement Benefits the Environment

The accurate color measurements offered by our spectrophotometers can do more than create product consistency to appeal to consumers. These solutions also provide environmental benefits, such as:

• Reduced energy use: When you have to scrap plastics due to color discrepancies, the energy used in their production goes to waste. Accurate color measurements mean you only use power to produce the desired plastic color. 
• Less wasted products: Early detection of color variations means you can adapt your processes before you produce products you need to scrap. Our spectrophotometers provide efficient measurements to avoid waste. 
• A more circular economy: We offer solutions that test plastic at every stage, from feedstock to recycled plastics. These solutions enable you to use all plastic materials more effectively, supporting a circular economy. 
• More effective recycling: Recycled plastics may have a different color due to yellowing over time or the optical brighteners used to mitigate yellowing. Our spectrophotometers allow you to determine the plastic's color and adjust based on variations. 

Start Your Search Today

For more than 70 years, HunterLab has assisted processing centers and manufacturing facilities in maintaining visual consistency in products. Contact our team today to learn more about our solutions.