AUTOMOTIVE · COLOUR MATCHING

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

  • 3nh GT60S mini gloss meter for 60° gloss measurement

    polyskomierze

    GT60S Mini Gloss Meter

    A light, compact 60° mini gloss meter for small and curved surfaces — Φ4 mm measuring window, 2×2 mm measured area, compliant with ISO 2813 / ASTM D523 / DIN 67530.

    • 60° gloss measurement on small and curved surfaces
    • Very small 2×2 mm measured area through a Φ4 mm measuring window
    • Light, compact design that is easy to carry around
    • Compliant with ISO 2813, ASTM D523 and DIN 67530
  • 3nh MS3012 portable multi-angle spectrophotometer for metallic and pearlescent finishes

    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
  • 3nh YT6500 coating thickness gauge with an integrated dual-use probe

    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.

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