Color Dosage (Minolta) – CIELAB

Color is a key parameter in many industrial sectors, whether it be food, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, animal nutrition, or plant products. It directly influences the perception of quality, consumer acceptability, and compliance with specifications.

The Minolta method for color determination relies on the use of portable spectrocolorimeters, enabling rapid, precise, and reproducible measurements. This approach provides standardized colorimetric coordinates, generally expressed in the CIELAB color space (L*, a*, b*), or as specific indices tailored to the needs of each industry.

Importance of colorimetric measurement

Color measurement is an essential tool for manufacturers who want to:

• Guarantee the regularity and visual consistency of finished products
• Objectively compare different raw materials or formulations
• Evaluate the impact of processing, preservation, or packaging methods
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and quality standards
• Strengthen brand image by offering homogeneous and visually appealing products

The Minolta method is a benchmark in quality control and product development, providing reliable and reproducible data.

Principle of the Minolta method

Minolta spectrocolorimeters use a standardized light source and measure the reflection of light by the sample. The data obtained are translated into colorimetric coordinates (L*, a*, b*):

• L* corresponds to brightness (from 0 = black to 100 = white)
• a* indicates the hue between green and red
• b* represents the hue between blue and yellow

These values ​​allow for the precise characterization of a product's color and the monitoring of its evolution over time. Specific colorimetric indices can also be calculated, such as the yellowing index, the whiteness index, or the color deviation ΔE, which is useful for comparing different batches.

Analyzed matrices

The Minolta method is applicable to a wide variety of industrial matrices, including:

• Cosmetic and dermocosmetic creams
• Plant powders, dry extracts or nutraceuticals
• Gels and functional formulations
• Solid and liquid food products
• Animal feed and plant-based raw materials

This diversity makes the method particularly versatile and suitable for multiple sectors.

Industrial applications

Minolta's colorimetric measurement is used in several fields:

• In the food industry, to control the color of fruits, vegetables, beverages, processed products, and functional ingredients.
• In cosmetics, to verify color consistency in creams, powders, and gels.
• In nutraceuticals, to ensure the visual consistency of supplements and plant powders.
• In animal nutrition, to standardize formulations and verify batch consistency.
• In the plant and extract industry, to compare raw materials and ensure their homogeneity.

Colour is a factor of differentiation and quality, and its mastery helps to strengthen the competitiveness of products.

Additional analyses available

To complement the color assessment, YesWeLab offers related analytical services, such as:

Color determination by spectrophotometry;
Turbidity analysis;
Viscosity analysis
; Dry matter determination

These additional analyses allow for a complete characterization of the formulations and strengthen the quality control of the products.

YesWeLab expertise

YesWeLab relies on a network of partner laboratories specializing in physico-chemical and colorimetric analyses, rigorously selected and mostly ISO 17025 certified and COFRAC accredited.

Since 2020, our digital platform has simplified analysis management for manufacturers, distributors, and engineering firms. It centralizes requests, enables sample tracking, and guarantees fast and reliable results.

Our scientific team supports each project with precision and responsiveness, in order to meet specific needs in terms of quality control and product innovation.