6 minute read
ANALYSIS
Three Colour Management Technology Trends to Follow This Year
Rik Mertens
Datacolor AG Europe – Dietlikon, Switzerland rmertens@datacolor.com
In the paint and coatings industry, colour consistency can be difficult to get right, in large part because we all interpret colour differently. The integration of a digital colour management workflow eliminates the potential for mismatched colour associated with visual evaluation and ensures accuracy, enabling an effective and streamlined colour control process.
The subjectivity of visual colour measurement increases the risk of errors during the paint and coatings production process, and inaccurate colour measurements can delay production and lead to increased business costs. Since products delivered by paint and coatings manufacturers are held to the highest industry standards, fast and accurate colour matching is fundamental. A comprehensive digital colour management strategy positions manufacturers for success – saving time and resources and increasing speed to market by enabling them to get colour right on the first try. Here are three trends driving colour management technology, which will be particularly relevant as the industry prepares for an adjustment to post-pandemic normalcy. The implementation of digital colour management tools
The adoption of digital colour management positively impacts supply chains for many industries by reducing the time and costs of product development, and paint and coatings is no exception. Digitalization is proven to increase speed to market by adding objectivity to the colour management process, and it prevents time-consuming errors by enabling the virtual communication of digital colour standards globally. A digital colour workflow usually includes hardware and software components working together to ensure colour accuracy. One of the most important tools is a colour measuring instrument or spectrophotometer. Spectrophotometers measure light reflected or transmitted across the visible spectrum and compare it to reference samples. Spectrophotometers also provide spectral data that can be used to
calculate tristimulus values for various conditions and calculate colour recipes for commercial colour matching. Modern spectrophotometers take precision to an even higher level by measuring the temperature of the sample that can influence colour perception, preventing wrong colour decisions within or out of specifications due to temperature variations. To be effective, spectrophotometers must consistently agree in their measurements. Fortunately, colour management technology has advanced over the years to improve inter-instrumental agreement (IIA). IIA references how closely two or more colour-measurement instruments of a similar model read the same colour. The closer the IIA, the more likely colours will be consistent across products, materials, or locations. The precision of IIA in newer spectrophotometers is so high that no relevant deviation can be detected from one device to another. Additionally, the recent introduction of advanced colour management devices like hyperspectral spectrophotometers allows us to measure items such as very small components and multicoloured, multitextured samples that were previously “unmeasurable” with traditional spectrophotometers. The digitalization of the colour management process also enables instant communication of data across the world. With the subjectivity of visual colour measurement removed, this data can prove whether you are able to meet tolerances using numbers, eliminating the time and expense of physical sample shipment. This is crucial for effective virtual communication among paint and coatings companies with employees spanning the globe.
The rise of cloud-based software and big data
In addition to embracing sophisticated colour management equipment, we are also seeing a rise in the use of state-of-the-art software. The debut of artificial intelligence, advanced new sensors and cloud computing is modernizing colour management across all sectors of the paint and coatings industry. In industrial paint and coatings, cloud-based software allows professionals to share colour measurements straight from the job site, and in in the retail sector it facilitates seamless communication between painters, consumers and paint shops. Throughout the paint and coatings industry there continues to be a need for data-based decisions to drive production. The introduction of cloud-based software now enables professionals to predict trends, push out promotions and balance inventory utilizing all the colour data stored in the cloud. On a larger scale, cloud-based software is closing the gap between how big data is analyzed and how it can inform critical industry decisions. Importantly, the cloud also ensures
consistency and quality. Users can identify errors and take action to fix them in real time – providing reassurance that they always have the latest information from whichever device is used to recall it. The implementation of cloud technology also mobilizes solutions, improves speed to market and streamlines colour professionals’ interaction with the colour control process. It allows paint and coatings professionals to reassess how they manage colour data and ultimately increase customer satisfaction. Cloud-based solutions are also optimized for the future – created to grow, expand and reform themselves to fit the changing needs of the marketplace.
The movement to portability
Portable spectrophotometers have evolved tremendously in recent years. In fact, their performance is now so high that they can be readily used as a benchtop replacement when there is a need to take colour matching on the go. This makes them particularly useful for painters, retailers and manufacturers. Portable devices enable painters to quickly identify and share their colour choice with any paint retailer, anywhere in the world to get paint made without the shipment of physical samples. For retailers in paint shops, portable devices make it easy to work away from the counter. The smaller and lighter devices allow them to measure large samples that are too big to be brought inside, such as door frames or siding transported by truck. Lastly, sales representatives for paint and coatings manufacturers no longer need to physically carry fan decks, which are expensive to produce and update, since they are now available on mobile devices. Furthermore, portable instruments make it fast and easy for them to identify available colours. Today’s portable spectrophotometers allow colour measurements to be made anywhere without sacrificing accuracy. Even better, they are convenient, easy to use and fast. Additionally, some types of portable spectrophotometers enable colour measurement data to be sent within seconds wherever needed for matching. This is particularly relevant for coatings professionals for whom the hassle of preparing and shipping physical samples is eliminated, since colour can be measured anywhere at any time. Automated colour measurement also helps paint and coatings professionals get colour right on the first try, guaranteeing quicker speed to market. Newer portable colour matching devices also work in real time with apps, allowing users to search colours and create palettes on their phones. These devices are trained with machine learning techniques, enabling a correlation between 45/0° and d/8° spectrophotometers, providing paint and coatings professionals with cost-effective colour measurement solutions that can be easily integrated with their existing colour management software. Modern portable colour measurement devices also offer great IIA with benchtop equipment. This is crucial for colour experts across the globe relying on portable devices to efficiently communicate with one another, as well as with benchtop equipment – to ensure existing colourant sets or pigment databases do not have to be remeasured every time. While accurate colour measurement can be challenging, modern tools and technology help experts establish an effective workflow by ensuring consistency. Pandemic-fueled changes to the industry have highlighted the importance of digital colour management to ensure speed to market, and as talk of returning a “new normal” continues, the efficiency offered by digitalization will likely remain extremely important to the success and productivity of paint and coatings professionals. Even in a post-pandemic world, the ability to streamline colour management globally will be critical for quality production in the paint and coatings market. Its importance will only grow as technology continues evolving to meet the industry’s ever-changing needs.
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High end benchtop spectrophotometer. Portable spectrophotometer.
© Datacolor © Datacolor
