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Types of 3NH Geometric Test Charts Products

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FAQs About  Geometric Test Charts

D/8° and 45°/0° are two different illumination methods with distinct optical geometries. The D/8° illumination is suitable for general industries, and delivers better performance in color difference comparison and color measurement especially for high-gloss products. For the packaging and printing industry, the 45°/0° illumination is recommended.

D/8° (Diffuse / 8° viewing)

Recommended for:
  • Plastic, paint, ink, ceramic, textile, coating

  • Samples with metallic luster, pearlescent, glitter, or texture

  • Situations requiring consistent data with laboratory spectrophotometers

  • Applications needing SCI (including specular reflection) / SCE (excluding specular reflection) switching


45°/0° (45° annular illumination / 0° viewing)

Recommended for:
  • Printing, packaging, paper, ink, matte non-metallic materials

  • Products focusing on human eye direct visual matching

  • Standard color matching in printing & packaging industry


Simple Selection Guide

  • With metallic/pearlescent/glitter effect → choose D/8°

  • Printing, paper, packaging, matte products → choose 45°/0°

  • Want universal use for multiple materials → choose D/8°


A colorimeter is sufficient for basic, routine color checks, while a spectrophotometer is needed for precise, comprehensive color analysis—here’s the clear breakdown:

When a Colorimeter is Sufficient

  1. Simple color matching needs: Ideal for checking if a sample matches a predefined standard (e.g., basic paint batches, plastic parts with solid colors).

  2. Consistent lighting conditions: Works well when measurements are done under fixed, standard light sources (no need to account for varied light effects).

  3. Cost-sensitive, high-volume tasks: Perfect for production lines requiring fast, low-cost color checks without advanced data analysis.

When to Use a Spectrophotometer

  1. Precise color quantification: Necessary for measuring Lab values (lightness, red-green, yellow-blue axes) or detecting subtle color deviations (critical for automotive coatings, high-end textiles).

  2. Complex color analysis: Required for metallic/pearlescent finishes, transparent materials, or samples with gloss/texture variations.

  3. Compliance and documentation: Essential when precise color data (spectral curves) is needed for quality audits, regulatory compliance, or brand color standardization.


Gloss is the general reflectivity of a surface, which encompasses a variety of degrees. One particular type of finish is high gloss, which has the maximum shine and reflectance. It increases the richness but emphasizes flaws as compared to satin or matte.


An inappropriate viewing angle may lead to reflections or color shifts in the light. The correct angle of 45 or 0 will provide the real color of the assessment without the distraction of glare.

Consistency in calibration is important to account for imbalances arising from wear and tear of the probe, probe pressure, variation from the environment, and fluctuations in daily usage. This is also necessary to maintain the best quality to various international standards.


D65, TL84, A light, CWF, and UV are the most common standardized sources used for precise color matching.

Further Geometric Test Charts Applications and Solutions

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