Colorimetry is a technique for describing and quantifying human perception of color by focusing on the physical aspects of color. A Colorimeter measures the amount of color in a given medium. Today, a variety of different applications of Colorimeters exist to quantify color, ranging from the laboratory to the electronics industry.
Tri-stimulus Colorimeter
Tristimulus Colorimeters are commonly used in digital imaging applications. Trichromatic Colorimeters measure color from light sources such as lamps, monitors, and screens. By taking multiple broadband spectral energy readings along the visible spectrum, the Colorimeter can analyze and calibrate specific output devices. The measured quantities can approximate tristimulus values, which are the three primary colors required to match the test color.
Density meter
Densitometers measure the density of light passing through a given frame. Density can be characterized as the darkness in film or print. When an image is printed, the ink pigments naturally block light as they are deposited through the printing process. Graphics industry professionals use densitometers to help control color at various steps in the printing process.
Spectroradiometer
Spectroradiometric quantification of the spectral power distribution emanating from a given light source. In other words, a spectrometer measures the intensity of a color. Spectroradiometers are similar in characteristics to Spectrophotometer s and are used to evaluate lighting for sale within manufacturing and for quality control purposes. Other applications include confirming customer light source specifications and calibrating LCD monitors for TVs and laptops.
Spectrophotometer
A Spectrophotometer is an analytical tool that measures the reflection and transmission properties of colored samples. A Spectrophotometer uses a function of the wavelength of light by passing a beam of light through a sample to record absorbance and transmittance. The instrument requires no human interpretation and is much more complex than a standard Colorimeter. Common applications for Spectrophotometer s include color formulation and industrial research and development.
