Standardised lighting ensures colour match

Consumer electronics finishing specialist Paintbox knows about colour management, which is why it has invested in standardised lighting equipment from GretagMacbeth for its colour laboratory.

Consumer electronics finishing specialist Paintbox knows 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 teletronic industry.

In 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 Motorola, Dyson and MG Rover Painted components must match and rejection of a batch on colour grounds would be disruptive and costly to us as well as our clients.

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 small components and a colour harmony room where we can view large mouldings.

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 comprise colour audits to ensure consistency in lighting and application of standards so that the desired colour objectives are achieved.

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