(Ypsilanti, MI) Color Technology, September 22-23, 2026

Objectives

• Build a foundation in visual and instrumental color assessment
• Understand the three essential elements of color: light source, object, and observer
• Learn how these elements impact color evaluation and control
• Gain practical experience through expert instruction and team-based activities
• Explore visual color assessment on Day One and instrumental color measurement on Day Two

Who Should Attend?

• Quality control and laboratory technicians
• Supervisors and managers
• Designers and color matchers
• Sales and marketing professionals
• Anyone responsible for color evaluation without formal color science training
• Professionals in coatings, plastics, textiles, automotive, aerospace, appliances, architecture, and related industries

Course Topics

• Visual color assessment and color matching
• Material coloring processes
• Color measurement fundamentals
• Spectrophotometry and color measurement
• CIE Lab* color space
• Color tolerances and weighted color difference formulas
• Metamerism and color evaluation
• Industry standards (SAE J361 and SAE J1545)
• Team projects and hands-on exercises
• Best practices for visual and instrumental color control

Learning Outcomes

Participants will be able to:

• Explain the three essential elements of color and their impact on color evaluation
• Perform visual color assessments using industry best practices
• Understand the principles of instrumental color measurement
• Interpret spectral curves and CIE Lab* color data
• Recognize and minimize metamerism
• Apply common industry standards for color evaluation
• Communicate color using appropriate terminology
• Establish and interpret color tolerances for quality control