Best Practices for Analysis
Tips for getting the most accurate results from SpectroSnap.
Analyze samples under consistent, neutral, and diffuse lighting. Avoid direct sunlight or colored lights, as they will alter the perceived color of the object and skew the spectral data.
For highly consistent lighting, use the Color Emitter feature on a separate device (like a tablet or laptop) to create a uniform, controllable light source. Set it to a neutral white for best results.
Shiny or glossy surfaces can reflect light sources directly into the camera, creating bright spots (specular highlights) that are not representative of the object's actual color. Use matte objects whenever possible.
A higher quality camera can capture more accurate color information. Ensure your subject is well-lit and in sharp focus to get the most precise reading. A blurry image will average colors together.
Make sure the color you want to analyze is isolated. A busy or colorful background can sometimes influence the camera's auto-exposure and white balance, affecting the final image colors.
For comparing samples, we recommend a sequential workflow. Select a sample tab, set the region of interest, add notes, and perform the scan. Then, move to the next sample tab and repeat the process.
SpectroSnap is a teaching tool, not a scientific instrument. It visualizes how colors are made of Red, Green, and Blue light. It is perfect for learning and comparison, not for precise scientific measurement.
Digital cameras use sensors to capture the amount of Red, Green, and Blue light for each pixel. SpectroSnap analyzes the average RGB color in the selected region and then breaks it down into these three primary components. The graph shows broad peaks representing the intensity of Red, Green, and Blue light detected in your sample. This is an intuitive way to understand how colors are composed, but it's a simplified model and doesn't represent a true physical spectrum measured by a lab spectrometer.