BYK-mac i MetallicColor Multiangle Spectrophotometer

The appearance of effect finishes is influenced by different viewing angles and viewing conditions. Apart from a light-dark flop and colour shift special sparkling effects can be created. The BYK-mac i spectrophotometer is unique as it measures both multi-angle colour and flake characterization in one portable device.

• Traditional 5-angle colour measurement: 15° / 25° / 45° / 75° / 110°
• Additonal colour measurement behind the gloss for colour travel of interference pigments: -15°
• Sparkle and graininess measurement for flake characterization

Each company is using their specific tolerances for the different colours.
In the last years weighted colour equations were developed to achieve better agreement with our visual perception.
BYK-Gardner is your partner to guide you through the different methods and helps to set up your customer specific color difference method.

The BYK-mac i spectrophotometer uses a LED light source with longterm stability and patented illumination control which provides superior accuracy and low maintenance for many years.

• 10 year warranty on the LEDs – no lamp changes needed
• Stable, long-term calibration – needed only every three months
• Temperature stable between 10 – 40 °C – without calibration
• Excellent agreement between instruments allowing usage of digital standards among the supply chain

A superior accuracy and excellent inter-instrument agreement allow use of digital standards. One binding reference eliminates sources of error and physical standards no longer need to be exchanged.

Thus, colour control data are reliable and communication among all parties is seamless and efficient.

Digital standards bring the complete supply chain on target.

The BYK-mac i informs you of the colour’s lightfastness. The instrument is equipped with additional sensors to detect fluorescent light excited in the visible range.

A new index, the Intensity Emission value, quantifies the fluorescent light and can be used for new colour development as well as for batch-to-batch control.

For ease of use the BYK-mac i gives an audio and visual signal when fluorescence is detected.

In order to guarantee stable positioning, the BYK-mac i is equipped with trigger pins on the bottom plate of the instrument.

If the pins do not have contact with the surface, an error message will be displayed. This ensures reproducible results on test panels as well as curved parts (r > 500 mm).

Additionally, the surface temperature is measured and saved with each measurement.

The surface finish of anodized products is influenced by its sandblasting and anodizing process.

BYK-mac i Pro combines 3 measurement methods to objectively evaluate process variations:

• Multi-angle colour to determine the lightness flop between near angular and flop angles
• Graininess to characterize the very fine textures created by the sandblasting process
• NEW Sparkle index ANO to describe the reflection behaviour of the surface with more or less sparkling flashes