Mt. Baker Research L.L.C.
2921 Sylvan Street/P.O. Box 28370
Bellingham, Washington 98228-0370

Defining Color Standards

Phone: (360) 650-0771 E-mail: <jackroot@mtbakerresearch.com>

Mt. Baker Research L.L.C. Information

Color Standards

Early in 2006 we began developing color standards produced from commercial ceramic tiles. We evaluated the single-color tiles distributed in North America by 25 international manufacturers and purchased several hundred samples. After selecting the best varieties, we purchased the 12,000 tiles that make up our present inventory. We continue to acquire new colors from sources in Europe, Asia, and North and South America.

Prior to our initial product release Dr. Jack Root performed the background research, acquired the tiles, created procedures for manufacturing, quality control, and calibration, and analyzed and documented the spectral reflectance data. Dr. Art Springsteen measured spectral reflectance factors for the 48 glossy colors included in the initial release, which consisted of 3 sets of 16 2x2-inch square color standards. We continue to support these original standards, which may be purchased from us or from Avian Technologies L.L.C.

The Basic Color Set is based on the CERAM Series II tiles with the addition of 4 new colors — black, white, difference yellow, and difference blue. The Grey and Pastel Color Set introduces pastel colors and expands the grey scale. The Special Color Set increases the color gamut with 16 dark and saturated colors that are not available in other tile sets.

Our color standards are used for instrument testing, calibration, and profiling. They offer the widest color gamut available in the international marketplace. Our standards are available singly, in standardized sets, and in matrix arrays.

We mount each 2x2-inch color standard in a holder machined from black or white Delrin. (We mount difference colors in white holders.) The 1.5-inch positioning well centered in the back of each holder contains a label printed with pigment-based, fade-resistant inks.

We package each color standard in an optical component bag fabricated from soft non-abrasive polyester felt. We supply each set in a foam-lined plastic case to protect the standards during storage and transportation. For boxed sets we offer soft polyester optical component pads as an alternative to optical component bags.

With each set we supply a CD disk that contains typical SPIN (specular-included) spectral reflectance factor data. We offer certified calibrations in the SPIN, SPEX (specular-excluded), and (0°/45°) bi-directional geometries, traceable to the National Research Council of Canada, the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology.