Portable spectrophotometer 45°/0° – SAGT557

The portable spectrophotometer is an instrument for color analysis on paints, plastics, textiles, printed materials, industrial components, painted surfaces and colored materials. It is suitable when control must go beyond the numerical comparison between a sample and a standard, also evaluating the material’s spectral response.

Compared with a colorimeter, a color spectrophotometer provides a more in-depth analysis because it measures the behaviour of reflected light in the visible range and displays the spectral reflectance curve from 400 to 700 nm. This makes it easier to understand how the sample reflects light at different wavelengths and provides more complete control when color difference alone is not sufficient.

The 45°/0° measurement geometry makes this model particularly suitable for applications where color needs to be assessed with a configuration close to the visual perception of the surface, reducing the influence of direct specular reflection. This is one of the main differences compared with other spectrophotometers in the range, which use different measurement geometries.

The instrument works with several color spaces, including CIE Lab, CIE XYZ, CIE Luv and CIE LCh, as well as color-difference formulas such as ΔEab, ΔE94, ΔEcmc and ΔE00. This makes it possible to compare samples and standards using criteria consistent with the adopted quality-control procedures.

Control of metamerism is one of the most important aspects of color analysis. Two samples may appear similar under one light source but different under another illuminant. The spectrophotometer helps assess this behaviour, allowing color to be evaluated not only as a single value but also in relation to the selected lighting conditions.

Several illuminants are available, including D65, D50, A, C, D55, D75 and fluorescent illuminants, together with the option to select the 2° or 10° observer. This flexibility allows the measurement to be adapted to industrial color control, laboratory activities or the comparison of materials intended for different visual conditions.

Displayed data may include color values, color differences, graphs, PASS/FAIL result, color offset and reflectance curve. Tolerance settings allow rapid verification of whether the sample falls within the defined limits against the reference standard.

The spectrophotometer is suitable for checks in a wide range of materials and sectors, including coatings, plastics, automotive, printing, textiles, electronics, cosmetics, food, research laboratories and quality control. It is useful both for comparing production batches and for checks on production samples where color consistency is important.

The included software enables connection to a PC and management of color data. The data output allows connection to the software for collecting measurements, improving traceability and reducing transcription errors in quality-control processes.

For applications involving non-solid materials, an optional accessory for powder measurement is available, useful when color control must be carried out on powder samples prepared suitably for measurement.

A calibration report is available on request, useful when the instrument must be included in documented quality procedures or when an initial metrological verification is required.

This spectrophotometer is suitable when more complete color control is required than with a portable colorimeter. A colorimeter remains a practical solution for rapid comparisons and routine checks; a spectrophotometer is preferable when reflectance curves, spectral color analysis, metamerism evaluation and more in-depth management of color differences are required.

Applications

• Color analysis on paints, plastics, textiles, printed materials and industrial materials
• Color control with spectral reflectance curve in the 400–700 nm range
• Comparison between sample and standard using ΔE formulas
• Verification of color consistency between production batches
• Metamerism assessment under different illuminants
• Color control in automotive, coating, plastics, printing and textile applications
• Analysis of opacity, color strength, whiteness and yellowness when required by the test
• Data management through included software
• Color measurement on powders with a dedicated optional accessory

FAQ – Portable spectrophotometer

What is a portable spectrophotometer used for?
It is used to measure and analyse the color of a sample, compare it with a standard and assess the spectral reflectance curve in the visible range.

What is the difference between a colorimeter and a spectrophotometer?
A colorimeter is suitable for rapid checks and operational color comparisons. A spectrophotometer provides a more in-depth analysis because it evaluates reflectance at different wavelengths and allows metamerism and color differences to be assessed more effectively.

What does spectral reflectance curve mean?
It is the graph showing how a sample reflects light at different wavelengths. This information helps explain the actual behaviour of color beyond a single numerical value.

Can the spectrophotometer assess metamerism?
Yes. It can assess metamerism, meaning the condition in which two colors appear similar under one illuminant but different under another light source.

What is the measurement geometry of the instrument?
The measurement geometry is 45°/0°. This configuration differs from that of other spectrophotometers in the range and should be selected according to the type of color control required.

Which color values can it display?
It can display values including CIE Lab, CIE XYZ, CIE Luv and CIE LCh, together with color-difference formulas such as ΔEab, ΔE94, ΔEcmc and ΔE00.

When should this spectrophotometer be selected instead of a colorimeter?
It is preferable when color control requires spectral analysis, a reflectance curve, metamerism assessment and more complete management of color differences.

Is the software included?
Yes. The PC software is included and allows measurements to be managed, color data to be analysed and traceability to be improved in quality-control processes.

Can powders also be measured?
Yes. An optional accessory for powder measurement is available. The sample must be prepared suitably to enable stable and repeatable measurement.

Is a calibration report available?
Yes. A calibration report is available on request and is useful when the instrument must be managed within documented quality procedures.

Want to learn more?  Take a look at our complete guide to spectrophotometers to better understand how they work and how practical they are.
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