DENSITOMETER

(reflection densitometer) A device used to read the color density of process colors on a press sheet. The device actually reads the degree of darkness on a reflected surface, but by incorporating special filters, densities of process colors can be read individually. Some densitometers also calculate dot gain (TVI) by comparing a solid patch to patches of known screen values. In a similar way, print contrast can be calculated. Densitometers are a poor color control tool for non-process colors like Pantone blends or custom colors, as the instrument is only looking for cyan, magenta, yellow, or black. See also “density” and “spectrophotometer”.