The Ultimate Guide to Color Viewing Booths

A color viewing booth (also known as a color assessment cabinet or a light booth) is a controlled environment used to assess a product’s color under various light conditions. To avoid interference from ambient light variation, these booths are used in printing, textiles, packaging, plastics, automotive, ceramics, coatings, cosmetics, and apparel, and many more industries. These industries rely on repeatable precision to visually color match and detect metamerism under such controlled environments.

In this guide, I address the 3NH (TILO brand) color viewing booths, including the T60 series (T60+, T60(5)), M60, and CC120 W models. Key features are fixture setup, light sources, operations, industry standards, use cases, calibration/maintenance, model tailoring, and more.

What Is a Color Viewing Booth?

A color viewing booth is a light enclosure. It is like a box that has light sources (D65 (daylight), D50, TL84, U30, CWF, UV) and simulates viewing conditions of daylight and store or fluorescent light. It allows a visual assessment of color comparison under fixed and repeatable conditions that are free from outside light interference.

Visual color matching in booths uses standards such as ASTM D1729, ISO 3664, DIN, ANSI, and BSI to reduce metamerism errors where two items look the same under one light source and differ under another.

Overview of 3NH / TILO Light Booth Models

T60 Series (T60+ or T60(5))

Supports up to five light sources: Typical configurations include D65, TL84, CWF, F/A incandescent, and UV. Some models allow custom combinations or switching between four or five sources.

Features:

● Dedicated switches per light that allow instant toggling.

● Elapsed time meter for each lamp, ensuring lamps are replaced timely to maintain color fidelity.

● Compliant with international visual evaluation standards: ASTM D1729, ISO 3664, DIN, ANSI, BSI.

M60 (American Color Light Booth)

● Designed for U.S. market preferences with light sources: D65, TL84/U30, F/A, CWF, and UV.

● Uses standardized lamp brands (Philips, Sylvania, 3NH/Graphica), with two D65 lamps, one TL84/U30, one CWF, one F/A, and one UV lamp in configurations.

● Key attributes include automatic switching, no warm-up flicker, low heat generation, and an American Judge II‑type lamp background color match.

CC120‑W Hanging Color Viewer

● Lightweight (72 kg), designed to be table‑or ceiling‑mounted.

● Configurations available with single, dual or triple light sources (common: D65, D50, TL84).

● Equipped with microcomputer control, runtime tracking per lamp, and rapid switching between sources.

Key Features & Technical Specifications

Light Sources & Compliance

Each booth includes multiple light sources:

● D65 (6500 K): Simulates daylight—standard for most color-critical applications.

● D50 (5000 K): Warm daylight standard, typically used in printing and graphic arts.

● TL84 (≈4000 K): Store lighting common to Europe, Japan, China.

● CWF (≈4150 K): Cool white fluorescent lighting typical of U.S. retail.

● F/A (≈2700 K): Incandescent lamp resembling shop/window display or sunset lighting.

● UV (365 nm): Highlights optical brighteners or fluorescent pigments in materials.

All 3NH booths are designed to meet visual evaluation standards like ISO 3664 and ASTM D1729, providing accurate and repeatable viewing conditions.

Switching & Timers

● Individual switches control each light source. Many booths support simultaneous or automatic alternation to evaluate metamerism.

● Built-in runtime meters monitor lamp hours to ensure timely replacement before light output and color rendering degrade (usually recommended at 2000–3000 hours).

Design & Installation

● The T60 series is tabletop size, ideal for benchtop laboratories or QC areas.

● The M60 is compact floor-standing (35 kg; 710 × 530 × 570 mm) meant for production or lab.

● CC120‑W is a hanging booth suitable for ceiling or tabletop mounting, flexible for limited workspace.

Performance

● Rapid lighting response: no warm-up delay or flicker ensures immediate visibility and consistent color rendering upon switching lamps.

● Energy-efficient design with low heat generation enhances comfort and prolongs lamp life.

Typical Applications

Color viewing booths are used across multiple industries:

● Printing & packaging: Evaluate proofs, packaging samples, inks for metamerism and consistency under varied light sources.

● Textile, dyeing & leather: Compare textile swatches under daylight and store lighting to ensure batch-to-batch color accuracy.

● Plastics, automotive & ceramics: Visual inspection of components and finishes under standard illuminants.

● Retail and retail display: Simulate in-store display environments to assess how product colors will appear under actual retail lighting.

Using a light booth reduces color judgment errors caused by ambient lighting usually present in workplaces.

Setup & Operation Workflow

1 Installation

Placement:

● For tabletop booths (T60), locate on a stable, flat surface away from windows or direct light.

● Hanging models (CC120‑W) should be mounted securely overhead with balanced positioning.

Power:

● Ensure mains voltage (e.g. 220 V or 115 V depending on region) matches booth rating. Plug into grounded outlet for safety.

2 Warm‑up & Lamp Usage

● Let booth run for 30 minutes before first use to ensure stable color temperature and illuminance.

● Avoid frequent switching between lamps to extend lifetime.

● Track lamp usage hours via built-in timer; plan lamp replacement around 2,000–3,000 hours of use.

3 Sample Positioning & Viewing

● Always place samples in the center of viewing area to reduce edge effects.

● When comparing multiple items side‑by‑side, lay them adjacent without overlap.

● Maintain consistent eye distance and angle across comparisons.

4 Light Source Switching & Evaluation

● Use designated switches to toggle sources (single, dual, or triple combinations per model permits simultaneous viewing).

● Observe for metamerism or color shift between light sources to detect mismatch.

5 Maintenance & Cleaning

● Ensure power is off before cleaning. Wipe surfaces and viewing area with soft cloth.

● Replace lamps promptly when illuminance drops or CRI degrades.

● Do not wash device with water; use appropriate cleaning solutions and soft cloth only.

Calibration & Quality Control

Although color booths do not mechanically measure color, periodic verification ensures reliability:

● Verify illuminance levels and spectral consistency using calibrated light meters or spectroradiometers.

● Replace lamps based on runtime tracking rather than waiting for visible degradation.

● Record viewing conditions in QC logs and use standardized comparison procedures.

● Maintain consistent ambient environment and booth positioning for repeatability.

Choosing the Right Model

Key Considerations:

● Number of light sources needed (3‑ versus 5‑source booths).

● Configuration flexibility: Can light sources be independently switched or combined?

● Installation form factor: Tabletop (T60), floor‑standing (M60), or hanging (CC120‑W).

● Regional light source standards: Models configured to D50/D65 for printing or CWF/TL84 for retail/store environments.

● Runtime tracking: Built‑in timers help with lifecycle management.

● Compliance certifications: Ensure booth meets ISO/ASTM standards for visual evaluation.

Model Summary Table

Summary

Color viewing booths from 3NH (TILO) provide standardized, controlled lighting environments essential for accurate visual color evaluation across industries. The T60/t60+, M60, and CC120‑W models offer flexible source configurations, compliance with standards like ISO 3664/ASTM D1729, built‑in timers, and no‑flicker operation to support reliable assessment and metamerism detection. Proper installation, maintenance, lighting sequence, and sample positioning are key to consistent and repeatable results. Use runtime tracking and planned lamp replacement to preserve accuracy over time.