The difference between SCI and SCE

SCI refers to the way of specular reflection of light, generally used for those who study the color properties of their own and do not care about the color attached to the sample surface gloss of the manufacturers, such as paint coatings. SCE refers to the way that does not contain specular reflection, which is generally applicable to those samples that are directly observed, requiring measurement results and visually very close, such as appliances.

In the SCE measurement mode, the specular light is excluded from the outside only diffusing light. The measured value is equivalent to the object's color. When using the SCI mode, the specular light and diffuse light are included in the measurement process. The measured value is the overall objective color of the object, regardless of the surface condition of the object. When we choose the instrument, these standards must be fully considered. Some instruments can also measure the values of SCE and SCI modes at the same time.

The SCI and SCE options are typically only found in the 8/d structure of the colorimetric instrument. For example:Shenzhen WAVE WR18 and WF series colorimeter and also WS70 spectrophotometer.

Even if the object is made of the same material, the color will change depending on the difference in surface gloss. For example, when the smooth and bright blue sample surface is sandpaper friction, why the blue looks a little bleaker?

When the elastic ball is cast into the wall and bounce back, its angle is the same. By the same token, as the light source produces light that is reflected from the same angle in different directions, we call the specular light, because the light is reflected by the mirror. Those rays that are not scattered by mirrors but scattered in all directions are called diffused light. Mirror reflects the light and diffuse light and we say the reflected light.

On the surface of a smooth and bright object, the specular reflection is relatively stronger and the diffuse light is weaker. On the rough surfaces of low gloss, the opposite is true. When we look at the surface of a smooth blue plastic object in the mirror reflection angle, the object becomes less like blue, because the specular reflection light produced by the light source is added to the object color. Generally speaking, people in the observation of the object color is ignored when the mirror reflected light. Therefore, in the measurement of such samples, in order to make the data and objects look the same, we must exclude specular light and only measured diffuse light. The color of an object is different, because we observe the mirror reflected light content is different.

We have come to understand that because people only observe the diffuse light, when the surface conditions of the object changes, the color will show a different. However, because the material itself is the same material, so the color of the object should not be changed. How can we get the color of the material itself?

The amount of specular and diffused light is determined by the surface of the object. But in the material and color under certain conditions, the total amount of two kinds of light is always the same. Therefore, when the surface of the blue plastic samples were roughened, the specular light content decreased and the diffuse light content increased. That is why we need to measure the total reflected light (mirror reflected light and diffuse light).