Choosing the Right Colorimeter for Coatings and Paints

Preface

Precision color matching ensures consistent color across all batches of products, which is a significant advantage for production lines. When the finished product's color is precise and accurate, your brand can stand out in the industry and become a benchmark. At Threenh Team, we understand that stable and consistent color can retain customers. Professional photometric instruments make perfect color matching a routine, and choosing the right colorimeter for paint testing is the first step towards achieving comprehensive success in color quality control. This guide will systematically introduce the colorimeters to you.

Find Cheap Color Measurement and Management Products from 3NH, China’s best Equipment Manufacturer. We offer cost-effective color measuring instruments, like colorimeters, spectrophotometers, gloss meters, color light boxes, and image test charts. Our appearance and color measuring devices are affordable. Yet provide you with awesome functionalities like hue detection, Metamerism evaluation, color matching, Reflectance measurement, and much more.

What Is a paint/coating Colorimeter？

The colorimeter for paint/coating is a high-precision instrument specifically designed to measure the surface color of coatings. It simulates human visual perception, quickly reads the Lab values of paints and the color difference ΔE with standard color chips, assisting in formulating recipes and controlling spraying processes. This device can avoid color differences caused by lighting and human judgment, ensuring uniform color consistency on walls, industrial parts, and other coatings. It is a key tool for quality control in paint production and application.

Why Invest in a high-quality paint/coating colorimeter?

Judging color solely by human eyes is entirely subjective. Factors such as the sunlight angle on the wall, the hue of the environmental background, and the visual fatigue of the inspector can significantly interfere with the results of color judgment by the naked eye.

Based on these issues, the threenh developed a high-quality paint and coating colorimeter to improve work efficiency.

The following are the core advantages of this colorimeter.

l Maintaining long-term color consistency: Ensure that the paint mixed today matches the color of the batch produced six months ago 100% accurately.

l Shortening the R&D color matching cycle: significantly reduce the time spent on repeated debugging of customized color codes in the laboratory.

l Reducing raw material loss: Before feeding in large quantities, identify batches with incorrect colorant mixing in advance to avoid scrapping the entire batch of raw materials. Specifically designed for liquid coatings, can directly detect wet paint mixtures, saving a significant amount of raw material costs from the very beginning.

l Unifying global factory production standards: Rely on unified and precise color data to ensure that finished products produced by factories located in different parts of the world have identical appearances.

Colorimeter vs Spectrophotometer: Core Technical Differences

The industry often confuses these two types of devices, but their requirements for compatibility accuracy are completely different:

Standard colorimeters are suitable for rapid screening in workshops, meeting the basic requirement of "appearing visually consistent". On the other hand, spectrophotometers like the TS-23/25/26C Spectrophotometer are high-precision professional equipment specifically developed for complex color matching in laboratories. They can simultaneously measure reflectance and transmittance, making them essential for testing translucent plastic sheets, varnishes, and precision printing inks.

Key Purchase Indicators for Colorimeters in the Paints and Coatings

Different hardware configurations are suitable for different colorimeters. The following core purchase criteria can help you purchase equipment that is durable and compatible with your production line:

l Handheld portable model vs desktop laboratory analyzer

If the team needs to conduct on-site inspections of immovable workpieces such as car frames and large walls, they require portable equipment. The Threenh ST

-700D handheld colorimeter excels in mobile inspection and is suitable for on-site operations in paint and coating workshops.

For high-standard laboratory color matching work, the TS8500 series heavy-duty benchtop equipment is the first choice, as it offers unparalleled measurement stability and data accuracy.

l Measure the caliber and surface texture of the workpiece

If you need to inspect rough exterior wall texture paint or concave-convex texture coatings, we recommend the NR20XE series. It is equipped with a 20mm large-diameter nozzle, specifically designed to fit various concave-convex texture surfaces.

l Non-contact scanning detection

Based on our actual testing, non-contact devices like the YL3160 Online Color Sensor are essential for production lines, especially for workpieces with viscous paint that have just been conveyed on the conveyor belt and sprayed. They can complete the detection without touching the paint surface, without damaging the wet coating, and simultaneously output color data in real time, ensuring that the assembly line does not stop.

l Data connectivity and digital integration

Currently, all factories are advancing digital management. Paints and coatings colorimeters should not only display color values, but also possess data storage, data traceability, and computer interconnection functions, facilitating managers to retrieve batch color data at any time. After connecting to the cloud-based color management platform, the equipment can achieve real-time quality monitoring throughout the entire production process.

l International compliance certifications (ASTM, ISO, CIE, AATCC)

Purchasing equipment that meets globally accepted standards ensures that your color data is credible in global trade, preventing the loss of overseas customers due to standard discrepancies and giving you an advantage in industry competition.

               ASTM standards (D2244&E313)

D2244 is the basic standard for general color difference testing; E313 standard is specifically for testing whiteness and yellowness. If the equipment lacks corresponding certification, there may be significant errors in color data.

ISO standers（7724&2470）

ISO 7724 is a universal color measurement standard for paints; equipment that meets both ISO 2470 can precisely control paper coatings and plastic coatings. With dual certification, the color detection report is universally applicable, whether the goods are for domestic sales or exports.

CIE and AATCC Rules

The equipment must comply with the CIE standards of the International Commission on Illumination and strictly adhere to the AATCC color grading specifications of the American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists, ensuring consistent color re-inspection results. A reliable equipment calibration process is crucial for maintaining stable measurements under varying lighting conditions and with different materials.

Reconmended Threenh Solutions

l TS-23C Spectrophotometer：3nh TS-23C spectrophotometer is a standard spectrophotometer that using a 45/0 optical geometry and features planar grating spectral splitting technology and a silicon photodiode array (dual array of 40 groups) sensor, ensuring stable performance. Capable of full-band spectral analysis from 400 to 700 nm。It can accurately reproduce the true colors of plastics, textiles, and various paint coatings, avoiding metamerism and making the measurement results more reliable. Instrument inter-machine variation is strictly controlled within ΔE*ab≤0.2 ,to ensure color consistency between the production line and the global supply chain. It is widely used in industries such as plastics and electronics, paints and inks, textiles and clothing printing and dyeing, printing, and ceramics for precise color measurement and quality control.

l TS-25C Spectrophotometer：3nh TS-25C spectrophotometer is a high-precision color management instrument for laboratories. With "accurate measurement + multi-scenario adaptation" as its core market positioning, it provides color analysis solutions for multiple industries. The TS-25C features a 45/0 optical structure and grating spectral technology to ensure measurement standardization and accuracy; it is equipped with 5 switchable measurement apertures to flexibly adapt to samples of different sizes; it also supports specialized detection of fluorescent samples, as well as measurement of luminance factor and chromaticity coordinates of traffic signs, markings, and reflective films. Built-in GB 2893 and GB/T 18833 standard colors, with manually customizable polygonal rectangle tolerances, it is used for color measurement and quality control needs in industries such as plastics and electronics, paints and inks, textiles and clothing printing and dyeing, printing, and ceramics, meeting the requirements of laboratory-level accurate color analysis and cross-scenario transmission.

l TS-26C Spectrophotometer：3nh TS-26C spectrophotometer is an enhanced laboratory-grade spectrophotometer independently developed by 3nh, specifically designed for high-precision color analysis and transmission scenarios. It adopts the internationally recognized 45/0 optical structure and incorporates a high-performance optical system, achieving rapid and accurate measurements within the 400–700nm spectral range. The product is equipped with seven measurement apertures to flexibly adapt to samples of different sizes and shapes, and has the capability to measure fluorescent samples. It also meets the requirements for measuring the luminance factor and chromaticity coordinates of traffic signs, markings, and reflective films. It includes GB 2893 and GB/T 18833 standard colors and supports manually customized polygonal rectangle tolerances, providing professional solutions for color management across various industries.

l TS7700 Grating Spectrophotometer：Spectrophotometer TS7700 is also widely used in the color quality control of various products. TS7700 is equipped with high-end color management software, which is connected to the computer to realize more function expansion. The instrument has stable performance, accurate color measurement and powerful function. It is widely used in plastic electronics, paint and coating, textile printing and dyeing, printing paper, automobile, medical treatment, cosmetics and food industries, as well as scientific research institutions and laboratories etc.

l MS3012 Multi-Angle Spectrophotometer：Capture and measure actual car colour from more 12 angles than ever before and get instant, accurate paint formula matches in your hands. This powerful instrument is full of technology and cutting edge colour science. It is the first unit in the market with a full definition colour camera, takes and analyses the readings with the highest number of angles. MS3012 spectrophotometer paint matching machine adopts Industrial-grade MCU with 12 measuring angles, which can provide accurate and consistent color measurement for metalllics, pearlescents and other complex special effect finished products. The smooth operating system and superior performance of the optical system allow the MS3012 multi-angle spectrometer to provide repeatability and reproducibility of Sparkle Grade(SG),Diffuse coarseness(DC) and Color Variation(CV) measurement.3nh Multi-angle spectrophotometer MS3012 is used to measure the color difference for the surface paint which is affected by different viewing angles and viewing conditions. It can not only measure multi-angle color difference, but also measure and characterize special finishes through 12 measuring angles. Even in the curved surface, it also has high measuring accuracy and stability.

Final Thoughts

With decades of deep industry experience, threenh balances equipment precision and cost-effectiveness, strictly controlling costs without sacrificing measurement accuracy. We assist you in stabilizing color quality and retaining customers for your brand.

FAQ

l What is the difference between a colorimeter and a spectrophotometer for paint inspection?

Colorimeters measure color difference; simple and fast for on‑site QC. Spectrophotometers measure full spectral data with high accuracy, analyze pigment strength and metamerism, suitable for R&D and standard setting.

l How to accurately detect wet paint?

Apply wet paint on a non-absorbent substrate and measure immediately with a spectrophotometer before drying.

l When purchasing a colorimeter, why is the size of the measuring aperture crucial?

The aperture must match your sample size and surface uniformity. Aperture too large includes background; too small misses inhomogeneity. Correct size ensures accurate, repeatable readings.

l What international standards must color measurement equipment comply with?

Must comply with CIE, ISO, ASTM, DIN, JIS, GB/T, etc., ensuring accurate and globally comparable data.

l Can a handheld colorimeter achieve the accuracy of laboratory testing?

Generally no. Lab instruments are more accurate, but premium handhelds can match for routine work.