This article explains how the Agera L2’s embedded camera strengthens quality control by allowing operators to visually confirm sample alignment, detect surface irregularities, and document appearance. By pairing visual evidence with spectral and colorimetric data, the system improves measurement reliability, ensures traceability across batches, and supports both internal quality workflows and customer reporting requirements. The purpose of the imaging system is to provide a more complete representation of each measurement—significantly reducing errors, eliminating misreads, and enabling higher confidence in pass/fail decisions.
Image Capture Occurs Automatically: The camera records the sample area during measurement; no additional steps are required by the operator.
Images Are Stored With Data: Captured images can be saved, exported, and included in audit trails, reports, and quality records.
Visual + Numeric Data Improve Correlation: Image-assisted measurement ensures that the recorded color values correspond to the exact sample region analyzed.
The HunterLab Agera L2 incorporates a high-resolution integrated imaging system designed to elevate the accuracy, traceability, and confidence of every color measurement. Unlike conventional spectrophotometers that rely solely on numeric outputs, the Agera L2 captures a real-time image of the sample surface within the measurement area—providing operators with immediate visual confirmation before, during, and after each reading.
This advanced system is built around a 2592 × 1944 (5 MP) active-array sensor with a 1/4" optical format and 1.4 µm × 1.4 µm pixel size, delivering crisp detail and exceptional clarity. Its high sensitivity (600 mV/lux-sec) and low-noise OmniBSI™ sensor architecture enable consistent, reliable imaging even on dark, matte, or low-reflectance materials. Automatic exposure control, auto white balance, automatic black-level calibration, and LED/flash-strobe support ensure that every captured image is accurately lit and visually consistent across material types, operators, and environments.
Real-Time Visual Verification
At the moment of measurement, the embedded camera records a high-clarity, calibrated image of the precise measurement area. This enables users to:
- Confirm that the sample fully covers the port
- Verify that the correct region of interest is being measured
- Detect misalignment, tilt, foreign particles, or handling errors
- Identify texture direction or surface anomalies that may influence color readings
The addition of high-resolution optics and low-noise sensor design greatly enhances this verification step, ensuring that visual confirmation is reliable even when measuring challenging materials such as deep blacks, textured plastics, or low-gloss coatings.
This real-time visual check reduces rework, prevents mismeasurements, and ensures that the obtained data truly corresponds to the intended surface.
Enhanced Quality Assurance
Surface conditions such as contamination, gloss variation, texture inconsistency, or irregular sample geometry can significantly influence color results. The Agera L2 imaging system helps identify these issues before they compromise measurements. Operators can quickly spot:
- Contamination such as fibers, dust, residue, or fingerprints
- Uneven surfaces, texture defects, or directional grain
- Air bubbles in liquids
- Particulate variability in powders or granules
- Surface gloss differences that might affect appearance readings
The imaging system’s auto exposure, auto white balance, and black-level calibration automatically optimize each image, ensuring that these surface issues remain visible and easy to catch.
By detecting potential issues immediately, the imaging feature strengthens process control and minimizes sources of measurement variability.
Image Documentation for Traceability
Each image captured by the embedded camera can be linked directly to its corresponding color and gloss data record, creating a complete appearance profile. These image files provide:
- Clear visual evidence to accompany reported numerical values
- Stronger documentation for audits and ISO compliance
- Reliable batch-to-batch and lot-to-lot comparison
- Support material for customer quality assurance reports
- Visual confirmation for supplier qualification and dispute resolution
This combination of visual and numerical data creates a deeper, more transparent record of product appearance—ideal for industries requiring full traceability, including plastics, food, paint, packaging, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and specialty chemicals.
Improved Confidence and Accuracy
By combining an advanced 5 MP imaging sensor, automatic calibration controls, and spectrophotometric measurement, the Agera L2 ensures that:
- Each measurement is associated with the correct sample location
- Potential anomalies are identified before readings are accepted
- Visual inspection and instrumental analysis occur simultaneously
- Operators gain confidence in both the measured values and the condition of the sample
- Every data point is anchored with a high-clarity visual reference
The imaging system effectively closes the gap between visual inspection and instrumental analysis, producing a complete and validated assessment of color and appearance—enhancing confidence, reducing operator error, and strengthening quality documentation across production lines, suppliers, and global sites.
To learn more about Agera L2, click this link: Agera L2
To learn more about Color and Color Science in industrial QC applications, click here: Fundamentals of Color and Appearance
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