Dark materials are best measured using a spectrophotometer designed to perform well on low-reflectance samples. Because dark materials reflect very little light, small variations in color, texture, gloss, sample presentation, and processing conditions can have a much greater impact on measurement results than they do with lighter-colored materials.
For many dark plastics, coatings, compounds, molded parts, and recycled materials, the preferred solution is the Agera® L2 with Dark Performance Mode, which is specifically designed to improve measurement stability and repeatability on low-reflectance samples.
How Much Does Agera L2 Cost?
The Agera® L2 starts at approximately $24,420 and provides a complete solution for color measurement of opaque materials including plastics, coatings, powders, pellets, molded parts, and recycled materials. In addition to objective color measurement, Agera L2 includes integrated 60° gloss measurement, allowing users to evaluate both color and surface appearance from a single instrument.
What Sets Agera L2 Apart?
The HunterLab Agera L2 includes Dark Performance Mode, a specialized operating mode designed to deliver superior color accuracy, repeatability, and stability when measuring ultra-low reflectance samples—typically those below 15% reflectance. These materials often present unique optical challenges that exceed the limits of standard spectrophotometric systems.
Dark performance Mode combines optimized illumination control, enhanced detector sensitivity, and advanced signal processing algorithms to maximize the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in dark regions of the reflectance spectrum. The result is true-to-appearance, visually correlated color data that allows manufacturers to measure, monitor, and manage the darkest materials with confidence and consistency.
Agera L2 is particularly well suited when:
- Appearance correlation is important.
- Surface effects influence visual perception.
- Dark materials require enhanced measurement repeatability.
- Visual color consistency is critical to product quality.
Special Considerations for Dark Materials
1. Sample Presentation Matters More
Because dark materials reflect very little light, small differences in:
- Fill depth
- Sample packing
- Surface leveling
- Measurement location
- Part orientation
- can significantly impact measurement results.
2. Texture and Gloss Can Influence Appearance
Two dark materials may have nearly identical color values but appear noticeably different because of variations in:
- Surface texture
- Surface finish
- Mold texture
- Gloss level
For this reason, evaluating both color and gloss often provides a better understanding of overall product appearance.
3. Larger Measurement Areas Often Improve Repeatability
Larger measurement areas help average local variation and provide a more representative measurement of overall appearance for heterogeneous materials such as:
- Recycled plastics
- Carbon-filled compounds
- Resin pellets
- Textured products
Best Practices
- Use consistent sample presentation procedures.
- Standardize measurement locations on molded parts and finished products.
- Evaluate gloss when appearance differences are important.
- Utilize representative sampling techniques.
- Consider larger measurement areas for heterogeneous materials.
- Monitor L* values carefully, as small changes can produce noticeable appearance differences.
- Use multiple measurements when evaluating pellets, powders, or recycled materials.
- Correlate instrument measurements with visual appearance.
- Document all measurement procedures in the quality control SOP.
- Use an instrument designed specifically for low-reflectance materials, such as Agera L2 with Dark Performance Mode.
Why Measure Dark Materials?
A common misconception is that color does not matter because a material appears black. In reality, customers often notice subtle appearance differences such as:
- Black with a blue undertone.
- Black with a brown undertone.
- Black with a green undertone.
- Slightly lighter black.
- Slightly darker black.
These differences can significantly impact perceived product quality, particularly in:
- Automotive interiors
- Consumer products
- Electronics
- Appliances
- Premium packaging
- Building materials
Objective color measurement helps manufacturers:
- Improve product consistency.
- Detect batch-to-batch variation.
- Monitor process stability.
- Control recycled material quality.
- Identify raw material variation.
- Investigate customer complaints.
- Improve supplier quality management.
- Reduce scrap and rework.
For dark recycled materials, color measurement can also help identify the effects of feedstock variation, additive changes, carbon black contamination, and processing differences—even when materials appear uniformly black to the naked eye.
Key Takeaway
Dark materials are not difficult to measure because they are black. They are difficult to measure because they reflect very little light. Successful measurement depends on:
- Consistent sample presentation.
- Appropriate instrument selection.
- Representative sampling.
- Understanding the influence of texture and gloss.
- Standardized measurement procedures.
When proper techniques are used—and when using a solution such as the Agera® L2 with Dark Performance Mode—color measurement becomes a powerful tool for controlling the appearance, consistency, and quality of dark materials across a wide range of industries.
To learn more about Agera L2 Dark Performance Mode, click here: Agera L2 Dark Performance Mode: Precision Color Measurement for the Darkest Materials
Would you like to learn more? Contact us and we'll help you find the best solution for your needs.
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To learn more about Color and Color Science in industrial QC applications, click here: Fundamentals of Color and Appearance