How Do You Measure Brightness and Reflectivity

How Do You Measure Brightness and Reflectivity

While you can easily see whether a surface is reflective or dull, it is far more difficult to measure that one might think. First, you have to consider what surface you are measuring. A grey sheet of paper is not going to have the same properties as a grey wall. Then you need to account for the colour medium; is this surface painted or a dyed solid plastic? Some things that seem simple enough become a complex challenge when you attempt to organize it.

The Measurement

It would seem natural to assume that brightness and reflectivity is the same thing, nevertheless this assumption is wrong. If you have need of such measurements then you are going to have to find the right technology. The device that is most often used for these applications is known as a Spectrophotometer and it is how one would measure the brightness or reflectivity of any surface.

A simple explanation of how this technology functions is that a light source is collected through the Monochromator, which is the "lens" of the device and for most applications; it gathers reflected light from the surface being tested. The device will generate an output wavelength and shine it at the sample, which is then gathered by the Monochromator. This light is measured by the photodetector, the heart of the instrument and the relevant measurements are recorded.

These devices are most often used in conjunction with a computer and software that is used to gather up all of the sample data and interpret it, presenting the desired measurements to the user. The software that is used is generally developed specifically for the machine being used and is usually included with the device.

Where and When

These devices have been around for some time now and they are fairly well developed. They are available commercially and you can find them on the Internet. The various models that you will find are designed for specific, industry-related tasks such as paper quality and product colour accuracy. It is interesting to note that this is the same basic technology that is used in some cardiac monitoring machines.

Portable versions of these devices are available for as little as 300 to 400. The range of medical monitoring devices available are much less in cost and used to measure Oxygen levels, lipids, cholesterol, and triglycerides, just to name a few. Whether for the new paint for your home or the dye quality specifications for a new production run, this technology is going to be very important at some point. Of course, this is most often used in medical and industrial applications; its use in a home is far rarer.

You may find however, that interior designers may use a portable spectrophotometer to insure colour matching with an existing colour scheme or to analyse light reflectivity in an art studio for example. Once you know what your needs are you can find a range of specialists that can provide consultation on what technology you should be using on the Internet.

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