Epson launches new SD-10 spectrophotometer and wins Good Design Award

Enables on-the-go colour matching for design and production applications


Epson has launched its SD-10 spectrophotometer, a highly accurate, compact and affordable spectrophotometer. Battery powered and equipped with a precision MEMS Fabry-Pérot tuneable filter, the SD-10 is small enough to fit in your hand or pocket and recently won a Good Design Best 100 award 2021.

Key features of the SD-10 spectrophotometer

• Compact hand-held design (35 x 80 x 80 mm)
• Self calibrating and simple to operate
• Large aperture lens with a wide spectral range
• All-in-one with a high-capacity lithium ion battery for mobile operation
• Take spot readings, compare colours or a patch set
• Downloadable iOS and Android app extends functionality
• Integrated annular multi-spectrum light source & LCD display
• USB & Bluetooth® interfacing, supports M0, M1e and M2 standards
• One year warranty with service cover extendable to five years via CoverPlus

 

The SD-10 spectrophotometer can be used to digitise colour readings and colour matching for a faster and more accurate workflow. It can be linked with a smart device to centrally manage colour information for smoother and more precise printing. Being portable it allows users to measure colours anytime, anywhere.


In short, the SD-10 solves colour matching problems in a wide range of print and design-related work, such as those commonly found in the sign & display industry.

 

When producing printed matter, there are often issues around accurate colour matching, particularly with corporate logo colours. The user-friendly SD-10, Epson’s first portable spectrophotometer, helps solve problems related to colour matching that were, until now, the work of a specifically trained and experienced operator.

 

Now, by using the SD-10 spectrometer, anyone can easily measure and quantify colours without specialised knowledge, so colours and processes can be standardised.



With an easy-to-read LCD screen, you can easily measure colours and convert them into accurate values. It’s also easy to connect the SD-10 to a smart device via Bluetooth and the Epson Spectrometer app is simple and straightforward to use, even for those who are new to colour measurement. Wired and wireless connection with a PC is also possible.

 

The SD-10 measures colour quickly and accurately using nine light sources arranged in a ring. You can even reduce the time required for colour matching further as you can get accurate values immediately that are unaffected by any uneven shape on the media’s surface.

 

Accordingly, the SD-10 can also be used for media with uneven surfaces, such as fabric, and the colour measurement results are not affected by any external environment.


The SD-10’s main body measures just 35 mm(w) x 80 mm(d) x 80 mm(h) and it weighs just 190 g, making it compact in size and easy to carry. It is also suitable for use in meetings and colour matching in the field such as on construction sites. In addition, as it has a built-in battery and can be used without requiring a cable, it is very easy to handle.

 

The Epson Spectrometer app displays the numerical values measured by the SD-10 as a colour picker with readings in a variety of formats including LAB, CYMK, LCH, RGB and more. In addition to being able to compare approximate colours and numerical values, you can also compare the colour differences between two measured colours and display the difference numerically. 

 

Moreover, the app also identifies similar colours of measured colours, colour scheme examples and complementary colours, and similar PANTONE® colours.

 

By linking with the functions of Epson’s genuine Epson Edge Print and Epson Edge Print PRO software, you can then get the exact colour you want with any Epson large-format inkjet printer.

 

Good Design Awards

Good Design Awards are presented annually for designs that benefit and enrich our lives and society.



Epson’s SD10 was described by the judges as they said, “The ability to match colours objectively based on numerical output instead of human sensory perception promises great benefits in terms of colour matching accuracy and efficiency. The digitisation of the last remaining analogue part of the printing process should remove a bottleneck and enable rapid advances in efficiency. The fact that the product is reasonably priced, thanks to sensor technology developed in-house and that the product fits neatly in the hand are also very appealing. The GUI is intuitive. It displays colours as numerical values and visualises differences in colour differences with a dedicated application that was developed at the same time. Coordination with familiar colour samples such as PANTONE is also being considered, and it is not difficult to imagine its widespread use in the future.”

 

For more information on the new Epson’s SD-10 spectrophotometer colorimeter go to: www.epson.com.au/large-format-printers/Products/LargeFormat/displaymain.asp?ID=SD-10