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To access the data click on ‘Load’ and look for the ‘.res’ files in the directories labelled ‘20degree’,
‘60degree’, etc.
8.5 Uploading and analysing readings
For instructions on how to upload and analyse data from the gauge click on the HELP icon in Novo-Soft.
9 GLOSS MEASUREMENT OVERVIEW
It is important that the test area is free of dust, dirt, fingerprints, etc. as these will affect gloss measurements.
Your Glossmeter integrates all the light going to the receptor, so if there is poor covering of the measuring
aperture, and ambient light is able to get in, this will be detected and will result in anomalous high readings.
When measuring translucent materials, such as plastic or glass, ambient transmitted light must be excluded
by either working in a dark room, or by shielding with opaque cloth.
The optics inside the Glossmeter are focused to the plane of the instrument, so the test surface must be in
contact with the base plate to obtain accurate readings. This applies also to silver backed glass mirrors,
where the instrument will be separated from the primary reflecting surface by the thickness of the glass.
When measuring textured materials such as leather, gloss readings may be slightly lower than expected
after a visual examination. This is because the measurement is an integral of highlighted areas, and
apparently dark ‘valleys’. For similar reasons, gloss measurement on very uneven surfaces will be
unreliable. Care must also be taken when looking at curved surfaces. The 85° geometry is totally unsuited
to this purpose, and should be used only on flat surfaces. The 60°, 45°, and 20° geometry get progressively
better at this task, but will still only give reliable readings on curved surfaces of >125 mm (5") radius. Best
results are obtained on cylinders when measuring parallel to the axis. For accurate gloss measurement on
Op_402 TMA-0244 Issue 02.fm Page 24 Friday, February 9, 2007 12:01 PM
