Functional Comparison of Colorimeter and Spectrophotometer
When choosing an instrument to purchase or use for your application, it is important to understand the types of instruments available to measure color. The terms "Colorimeter" and "Spectrophotometer " cause some confusion, so their differences are listed in the table below. Note however that both types of instruments provide data acquired at the same visible wavelength range (around 400-700nm), but they may process this data differently.
| Colorimeter | Spectrophotometer |
| Tools for psychophysical analysis - Provides measurements related to human eye-brain perception. Colorimetric data is read directly and provided as tristimulus values (XYZ, L, a, b, etc.). | Instrumentation for Physical Analysis - Provides wavelength-wavelength spectral analysis of an object's reflection and/or transmission properties without human interpretation. Psychophysical (colorimetric) information can be calculated indirectly. |
| Consists of sensors and a simple data processor. | It consists of a sensor plus a data processor or a computer with software. |
| There is a set of light source and observer combinations, usually C/2°. | There are many illuminant/observer combinations available that can be used to calculate tristimulus data and metamerism indices. |
| Isolate broad bands using tristimulus absorption filters. | Isolate narrowband wavelengths using prisms, gratings, or interference filters |
| Typically a rugged and less complex instrument than a Spectrophotometer . | It is a more complex instrument than a Colorimeter. |
| Good for general comparisons of similar colors, and to adjust for small color differences under constant conditions. Suitable for quality inspection. | Ideal for color formulation, metamerism measurements and variable illuminant/observer conditions. Suitable for quality inspection and research and development. |
| Example: HunterLab D25 series instruments and ColorTrend HT are Colorimeters. | Example: HunterLab ColorFlexes, ColorQuests, LabScans, MiniScans, SpectraProbes and UltraScans (all generations) are Spectrophotometer s. |
The following are examples of many of these factors:
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