PAINTBOX TAKE GREATER CONTROL OF COLOUR
Automotive and consumer electronics finishing specialist Paintbox Limited know about colour management. They began as specialist finishers for F1 racing teams and are now high volume component finishers for some of the giants of the motor and teletronic industry. In all these markets colour is a critical quality factor and one reason for their investment in standardised lighting equipment from GretagMacbeth for their colour laboratory.
PAINTBOX TAKE GREATER CONTROL OF COLOUR
Automotive and consumer electronics finishing specialist Paintbox Limited know about colour management. They began as specialist finishers for F1 racing teams and are now high volume component finishers for some of the giants of the motor and teletronic industry. In all these markets colour is a critical quality factor and one reason for their investment in standardised lighting equipment from GretagMacbeth for their colour laboratory.
Laboratory manager, Karen Jewison takes up the story, "As specialist finishers we produce high quality painted plastic parts for companies such as MG Rover, Motorola and Dyson. Painted components must match and rejection of a batch on colour grounds would be disruptive and costly.
Manufacturers supply us with colour reference standards for each component. These are viewed under D65 simulated daylight conditions to ensure conformance. We have a colour booth for components and a colour harmony room where we can view a whole vehicle. These are in constant use. Samples from all new batches of paint are test sprayed and compared to manufacturers references in the light box before full-scale use in production. Sprayed components are also batch tested under standardised light conditions before product is released to the customer."
Both the colour booth and the luminaires in the colour harmony room use GretagMacbeth's SpectraLight III Smartlogic technology to deliver an exceptionally accurate daylight simulation system. This comprises a tungsten halogen light source and patented filters. Three daylight illuminants are available, D50, D65 and D75. These exceed the requirements of international standards. In addition, units also offer viewing under Horizon daylight, Cool White Fluorescent, two levels of Ultraviolet and either TL84 or U30.
GretagMacbeth offer a complete service to support colour management – the Integrated Colour Management System (ICMS). This includes standardised lighting, instrumentation, colour standards and training for key staff. In addition, ICMS includes consultancy and support that comprises colour audits to ensure consistency in lighting and application of standards so that the desired colour objectives are achieved.
More information: Sarah Harrison, GretagMacbeth, Tel. 0161 926 9822 Fax. 0161 926 9835
E-mail: harrison@gretagmacbeth.co.uk
For easy editing, a version of this text is on the web at www.ainsmag.co.uk/gr208/3178gr1a.htm
November 26, 2001
Additional Note for Editors
Standardised Lighting and why it is Important
The use of standardised light for colour certification is increasingly used by manufacturers to ensure consistency in painted, printed, plastic and textile products or components. Samples viewed under one type of light may match, but may mis-match under another. This is called metamerism.
Daylight is universally available, but varies in quality. Only by ensuring uniform test methods throughout the supply chain can manufacturers be certain that fully assembled products will be consistent in their appearance.
GretagMacbeth SpectraLight III systems offer a range of different light sources. Three intensities of simulated daylight are available. Standard D75 is north sky daylight and equates to the light from a moderately overcast sky. Standard D50 is noon sky daylight, while standard D65 is average north sky daylight. The D65 standard is usually adopted because it is a balanced light source that gives near equal weight to every colour of the spectrum. Objects viewed under this source will be free of colour distortion. Horizon is a daylight variant that simulates sunrise or sunset, with a bias toward the red end of the spectrum.
As some objects may be viewed in a home or store environment, these light sources are also simulated. Cool White Fluorescent and Ultralume 30 are common home and store lighting sources in the USA. In Europe, TL84 is a common lighting standard. Illuminant A is a close approximation to spotlighting found in stores and some homes.
Some items, particularly bleached textiles, may contain fluorescent pigments. The effect of this is seen under ultraviolet light, of which two intensities are provided on the SpectraLight III. Depending on the item, and the environments in which it may be seen, testing may be done under one, several or even mixed light sources.
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