Media research with a microscope.

Once again we’re doing R&D on plastic media, this time analyzing color for the Emriver Em2 models. This one is tricky because the stuff is post-industrial recycled. We have to keep the cost down, and can’t pick the colors exactly, but must deal with mixes.

We put together batches of various chroma (chromi?, brightness is what it means) and found that perception of color does not match reality. What do you think the percentage of white is in this sample (against a dark background)? It’s nearly 90% white, though the nonwhite particles catch your eye. The colored particles carry a much higher weight in visual perception.

We got a very cool little digital microscope for this work, and have had a blast looking at bugs and fingerprints and such.