Colour measurement in automotive
Interior colour matching, paint control and coating thickness — consistency of parts from many suppliers.
Colour harmony in the vehicle
A car interior brings together parts from different materials and suppliers — plastics, textiles, leather, painted trim. They must form a colour-coherent whole, even under changing light. That is why makers and tier suppliers control colour objectively, as difference ΔE in the CIE L*a*b* space, often to tightened OEM specifications.
Interior parts and trim colour is measured with spectrophotometers and colorimeters — including 45°/0° geometry models that closely match visual assessment. The colour of metallic and pearlescent finishes, which shifts with the viewing angle, is measured with a multi-angle spectrophotometer. Body-paint quality is checked with a gloss meter (ISO 2813) and film thickness with a coating thickness gauge by magnetic and eddy-current methods.
Objective colour and finish control ensures part-to-part consistency across the supply chain and compliance with OEM standards.
Instruments for automotive
polyskomierze
HG-Series Digital Gloss Meter
The HG digital gloss meter series (HG268, HG60, HG60S) — 20°/60°/85° or 60°-only measurement, repeatability from 0.1 GU, an economical alternative to the NHG series.
- Gloss measurement at 20°, 60° and 85° (HG268) or 60° only (HG60, HG60S)
- Repeatability around 0.1 GU (1 GU on the entry-level HG60S)
- Large colour display and one-button measurement
- PC connectivity on HG268 and HG60 (not available on the entry-level HG60S)
spektrofotometry
MS3012 Multi-Angle Spectrophotometer
A portable multi-angle spectrophotometer with 12 measurement angles for metallic, pearlescent and effect finishes — with Sparkle, Coarseness and Color Variation effect grading, compliant with DIN 6175 and SAE J1545.
- 12 measurement angles (7 sources, 2 receivers) for reliable metallic and pearlescent finish control
- Visual-effect grading — Sparkle Grade (SG), Diffuse Coarseness (DC) and Color Variation (CV)
- Compliant with automotive standards DIN 6175, ASTM D2244, ISO 7724 and SAE J1545
- ΔE*ab 0.02 repeatability, camera preview, lightweight approx. 1 kg body for on-site use
grubosciomierze
YT6500 Coating Thickness Gauge
Professional coating thickness gauge with an integrated dual-use probe (Fe/NFe) — automatic substrate recognition, 0–5,000 µm range, 3,500-reading memory, USB-C and Bluetooth 5.0.
- Integrated dual-use probe — measures non-magnetic coatings on steel (Fe) and insulating coatings on non-ferrous metals (NFe)
- Wide 0–5,000 µm measuring range with automatic substrate-type recognition
- Four measurement modes — basic, quality control, continuous, statistical
- Compliant with ISO 2178, ISO 2360, ASTM B499 and other magnetic/eddy-current test standards
Frequently asked questions
Which geometry for car interiors?
45°/0° geometry closely reproduces visual colour assessment of matte and textured parts typical of interiors. Glossy surfaces and paints use spherical d/8° geometry with SCI/SCE modes.
Do you measure to OEM specifications?
3nh instruments measure in all standard colour spaces and colour-difference formulas (ΔE*ab, ΔE*00, ΔE*cmc), so you can run control to each manufacturer's requirements.