The Colour Matching Process

• Datamatch™ is at the heart of the system allowing you a wider choice of colours
• You now have more choice as our ability to manage darker / high chroma colours is enhanced
• Benchmark spectrophotometer improves match accuracy and speeds up development times
• Your matches are created and delivered in the shortest time
• You are assured of the best colour consistency from batch to batch
• Colour standards are electronically stored and Universal QC Equations are used

• Colour can be measured electronically using a spectrophotometer.
• The spectrophotometer contains a pure light source.
• This light source is used to illuminate the colour target.
• The reflected light is then measured

• The reflected light, once measured, can be displayed visually and is called a reflectance curve.
• Every colour will have a unique reflectance curve.
• The curve displayed is for this yellow.

Development [Option 1]
The reflectance curve is then stored in the computer database and compared to all the other colours that we have ever matched. An existing colour formulation can then be used as a start.

Development [Option 2]
The database also contains reflectance curves for all of the individual pigments and dyestuffs. Pigments and dyestuffs are first selected on the basis of technical and commercial viability. A starting formulation can then be calculated.

• The first stage of any new colour match is to achieve the required colour in plaque form.
• The pigments and or dyestuffs identified in the starting formulation are added to the required polymer, mixed together and injection moulded.
• The colour achieved is then re-measured and any adjustments made.
• This process continues until the required colour is achieved.
• If only plaques are required then the match is complete at this stage.

• If a sample is required then a larger mix is weighed out and mixed in a high speed mixer.
• The mix is then extruded and pelletised to form a masterbatch.
• The masterbatch is then letdown in the correct polymer and then re-measured and any adjustments made.
• This process continues until the required colour is achieved.
• Once the colour is achieved a small sample is compounded into the correct polymer and moulded into plaques.