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FAQ – What Is the Best HunterLab Solution for Transmission-Only Color Measurement?

Answer

For applications involving transparent and translucent materials, the Vista® L2 is HunterLab's preferred transmission-only color measurement solution.

Vista® L2 is specifically optimized for visible-range transmission measurements, making it ideal for color, haze, turbidity, and liquid color scale evaluations where light passes through the sample.

How Much Does It Cost?

The Vista® L2 starts at approximately $14,965.


The system combines transmission color measurement, haze evaluation, and industry-standard liquid color scales into a single instrument platform.

What Is the Typical ROI of Using Vista® L2?

Though exact numbers vary significantly by customer and industry, organizations commonly achieve savings through:

  • Reduced off-spec production: $5,000–$50,000
  • Reduced customer complaints: $5,000–$25,000
  • Improved process consistency: $5,000–$25,000
  • Reduced visual inspection variability: $2,500–$10,000
  • Improved product release efficiency: $2,500–$25,000

Many organizations achieve payback within 6–18 months.

Note: These estimates are based on typical production scenarios and publicly available industry benchmarks. Actual results will vary depending on production volume, material costs, labor rates, quality requirements, and process capability.

For many liquid and transparent material applications, objective measurement eliminates subjective visual evaluations and improves consistency across operators, laboratories, and production sites.

Why Would I Choose Vista® L2?

Vista® L2 is designed specifically for transmission measurements. Unlike reflectance instruments that evaluate light reflected from a surface, Vista® L2 measures light transmitted through a sample, making it ideally suited for transparent and translucent materials.

By focusing exclusively on transmission measurement, Vista® L2 delivers a simple, efficient, and cost-effective solution for applications where reflectance capabilities are unnecessary.

What Makes Vista® L2 Different?

Transmission-Only Design

Vista® L2 is optimized specifically for transmission color measurement. This dedicated design simplifies operation while providing excellent performance for:

  • Transparent liquids
  • Transparent films
  • Transparent packaging
  • Preforms
  • Edible oils
  • Chemical products

Dual-Beam Optical System

Vista® L2 utilizes a dual-beam optical design that continuously compares the sample beam against a reference beam. This architecture helps improve:

  • Measurement stability
  • Long-term repeatability
  • Instrument reliability

while minimizing the influence of lamp drift and environmental variation.

Color and Haze in One Instrument

Many transparent products require more than color evaluation. Vista® L2 supports:

  • Visible color measurement (400nm-710nm)
  • Haze measurement

allowing manufacturers to evaluate multiple quality attributes using a single platform.

Industry-Standard Liquid Color Scales

Vista® L2 supports many of the industry's most widely used color scales, including:

  • APHA (Pt-Co/Hazen)
  • Gardner
  • Yellowness Index
  • Lovibond®
  • AOCS
  • Chlorophyll
  • CIELAB (L*, a*, b*)
  • ΔE Color Difference
  • Many more

This allows manufacturers to comply with customer, industry, and regulatory specifications.

What Are the Best Practices for Using Vista® L2?

  • Use clean, scratch-free sample cells.
  • Maintain consistent sample path lengths.
  • Remove bubbles whenever possible.
  • Standardize the instrument regularly.
  • Monitor CIELAB (L*, a*, b*) routinely.
  • Monitor haze and turbidity where applicable.
  • Use approved reference standards.
  • Follow consistent sample handling procedures.

Consistent sample preparation is critical for achieving repeatable transmission measurements.

Are There Any Special Considerations?

Haze Measurement Has Application Limitations

Vista® L2 complies with ASTM D1003 Procedure B for haze measurement on flat transparent materials. Typical applications include transparent to semi-transparent:

  • Plastic film
  • Plastic sheet
  • Flat transparent packaging materials
  • Liquids

Curved products such as bottles and preforms may require alternative approaches, and haze measurements may become relative rather than strictly ASTM-compliant depending on sample presentation.

Vista® L2 Is Not a Reflectance Instrument

Vista® L2 is designed exclusively for transmission measurements. Applications requiring reflectance measurement should consider:

  • ColorFlex® L2
  • Agera® L2
  • UltraScan® VIS
  • UltraScan® PRO

depending on performance requirements.

Some Applications Require Both Transmission and Reflectance

Customers who need to measure both transparent and opaque materials on the same instrument should consider:

  • UltraScan® VIS
  • UltraScan® PRO

which combine transmission and reflectance capabilities in a single platform.

Vista® L2 Key Capabilities

  • Transmission-only measurement
  • Dual-beam optical system
  • Visible-range spectral measurement
  • Haze measurement
  • Industry-standard liquid color scales
  • Excellent repeatability for transparent materials
  • On-board EasyMatch® Essentials L2 Color QC Software
  • Optional EasyMatch® Quality Central Enterprise Software

Key Takeaway

Vista® L2 is HunterLab's preferred solution for transmission-only color measurement. By combining dual-beam optics, visible-range spectral measurement, haze analysis, and support for industry-standard liquid color scales, it provides a dedicated platform for evaluating transparent and translucent materials quickly, accurately, and consistently.

Do you need more information? Submit a ticket and a support team member will reach out to you soon!

To learn more about Color and Color Science in industrial QC applications, click here: Fundamentals of Color and Appearance

Keywords: What Is the Best HunterLab Solution for Transmission-Only Color Measurement?