CTC Leiderdorp, June 2017

 

Welcome to our list of 12 low cost color devices to measure color digitally!

The list mentions basic information of each device (LCCD) that will help you in a buying decision for your business or activities. Devices (spectrophotometers) for measuring color are usually quite expensive (€/$ 5k-20k) but in the last 10 years low cost devices with specific functionalities entered the markets and new developments are added every year. The price ranges from €/$ 50 – 700. LCCDs carry alluring names like Nix, Muse, Nano, ColorReader, Capsure, Node, and Pico. The basic scenario for LCCDs can be described as follows: suppose you want to know the paint color of an object like a wall. Without a color fan deck it is almost impossible to determine the color but even if a fan deck with color chips is available it is not easy to identify the closest color match in the fan deck. LCCDs are often assisted by an App and can help you to do that. Each LCCD use specific technologies but in most cases will do the job to identify a fan deck color. LCCDs are meant to be used by professionals like painters and architects. Given the low price we expect that prosumers will also be interested to use these devices. Especially if the user scenario extends to areas like fashion and photography. For this purpose we see that manufacturers are extending their apps to give Lab and RGB data of the measured color which can be used for other purposes than searching a fan deck. We think most manufacturers want to go for the big numbers but it seems that a real breakthrough is not there yet. We guesstimate the total number of devices to be 100.000+ while the manufacturers expect this number to go over the millions. A new development that is closely related to this subject is the use of color calibration cards in combination with a smart phone. The latest development is from X-Rite. We included this card in the list together with the card from Techkon. Also read our blog post with an overview related to low cost devices. Or read the excerpt of our industry report. Please contact us if you need more information or want to comment the content: info@coltechcon.com.

Name LCCDColor Muse
ProducerVariable Inc Website
StandaloneNo, App needed
App Yes .
Price$59
Selling Points+ Very Cheap + Interesting App – No Display . . .
Technology – Geometry – Light source – Sensor . – 45/0 – 4 white LEDs – Tristimulus Sensor
Fan decks+ very complete . NCS via NCS – No Pantone
Name LCCDColorReaderPro
ProducerDatacolor Website
StandaloneYes
App Yes .
Price$200
Selling Points+ Display + Fast + Accurate – Design – Calibration .
Technology – Geometry – Light source – Sensor . – 45/0 – 8 white LEDs – Tristimulus Sensor
Fan decks. OEM Specific – No Pantone
Name LCCDNix
ProducerNix Sensor Website
StandaloneNo, App needed
AppYes .
Price$349
Selling Points+ No Calibration + Interesting App – No Display – Price . .
Technology – Geometry – Light Source – Sensor. – 45/0 – 2 white LEDs – Tristimulus sensor
Fan Deck+ Very Complete – No Pantone
Name LCCDColorcatch Nano
ProducerColorix Website
StandaloneNo, App needed
App . Yes
Price$499
Selling Points+ Image Positioning + Micro PickUp + Draw App – Price – Wired .
Technology – Geometry – Light Source – Sensor. – 45/0 – 9 white LEDs – CCD
Fan Decks+ Ral + NCS 1950 . $10 per fan deck – No Pantone
Name LCCDColorcatch 3
ProducerColorix Website
StandaloneYes
App . Yes
Price$556
Selling Points+ Draw App + Display – Price – Design . .
Technology – Geometry – Light Source – Sensor. – 45/0 – 3 white LEDs – RGB sensor
Fan Decks– Ral – NCS 1950 – $10 per fan deck – No Pantone
Name LCCDSpot
ProducerPalette Website
StandaloneNo, App needed
App . Yes
Price$179
Selling Points. Discontinued? + Low Price + Auto calibration – Only Dulux – Accuracy – No Display.
Technology – Geometry – Light Source – Sensor. – 45/Diffuse ? – 3 colored LEDs ? – Photodetector ?
Fan Decks– Only Dulux
Name LCCDPico
ProducerPalette Website
StandaloneNo, App needed
App . Yes
Price€ 99
Selling Points+ Cheap + Classy design – No Display – –
Technology – Geometry – Light Source – Sensor. – 45/0 – 3 colored LEDs – Photodetector
Fan Decks. Only LCCD with multiple fan decks > 35
Name LCCDCube
ProducerPalette Website
StandaloneNo, App needed
App . Yes
Price$139
Selling Points+ Integrated Sphere + Low Price – Less accurate – No Display . .
Technology – Geometry – Light Source – Sensor. – 45/Diffuse – 3 colored LEDs – Photodetector
Fan Decks+ Complete – No Pantone
Name LCCDColor Capture
ProducerX-Rite Website
StandaloneYes
AppYes; Basic app for Bluetooth model
Price$770
Selling Points+ Display + Image positioning – Price – Basic App . Different versions .
Technology – Geometry – Light Source – Sensor. – 45/0 – 8 colored LEDs – CCD
Fan Deck. OEM Specific + Pantone possible
Name LCCDNode, discontinued
ProducerVariable Inc Website
StandaloneNo, App needed
App Yes .
Price~$400
Selling Points+ Modular – High Price – No Display – Discontinued . .
Technology – Geometry – Light source – Sensor . – 45/0 – 8 white LEDs – Tristimulus Sensor
Fan decks. very complete . NCS via NCS . No Pantone
Name LCCDColor-Helper Pro
ProducerColor Savvy Website
StandaloneYes
App No .
Price$204
Selling Points.Discontinued? + Display – Design – Dated . .
Technology – Geometry – Light source – Sensor . – 45/0 – 1 white LED – ?
Fan decks– 22000 colors – Most US paints – No NCS – No Pantone
Name LCCDColor Advisor
ProducerColor Savvy Website
StandaloneYes
App No .
Price$59
Selling Points+ Very Cheap + Display – Design – Dated – One Fandeck .
Technology – Geometry – Light source – Sensor . – 45/0 – 1 white LED – ?
Fan decks– one fan deck – user selectable
Name LCCDColorEye
ProducerX-Rite Website
StandaloneNo with Smartphone .
App Yes .
Price~$1, only OEM
Selling Points+ Ultra Cheap + Portability + No electronics – Accuracy? . .
Technology – Geometry – Light source – Sensor . – sort of D/8 – Smart Phone LED – Smart Phone CCD
Fan decks. OEM specific + Pantone expected
Name LCCDColorCatcher
ProducerTechkon Website
StandaloneNo with Smartphone .
App Yes .
Price~$?, only OEM
Selling Points+ Ultra Cheap + Portability + No electronics – Accuracy? . .
Technology – Geometry – Light source – Sensor . – sort of D/8 – Smart Phone LED – Smart Phone CCD
Fan decks. OEM specific + Different setups