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Gloss Meters - Information And Advice

by MarkWalters

You can use a gloss meter for any number of applications. They can measure the gloss on a whole range of things and this article looks at a few of them, but we starting by asking exactly what gloss is. Basically, gloss is a visual effect that has a couple of functions. On one level, it is purely aesthetic but it also protects whatever it has been put on from damage: a gloss meter measures the level of gloss and sees whether any of it has disintegrated.

The automobile industry often uses gloss meters as they commonly use gloss paint on the vast majority of cars. This is to protect the body of the car from damage as well as to make them look more appealing. It can be hard to tell if there's damage on cars sometimes if only the gloss rubs off, so gloss meters are used to test them: you can't always rely on big chunks of paint flaking off and alerting you to a problem.

You can also find gloss meters used in the construction industry, generally on aesthetic materials such as marble, where their appearance is really important. Marble has a very glossy appearance that makes it look lovely but if there are scratches on it, it impacts on the overall effect and can sometimes be indicative of wider structural problems. The gloss meter makes sure that this isn't the case and highlights any problems early so it is much easier to keep things looking nice.

The printing industry also uses gloss meters in a lot of advertising campaigns, such as on posters and other promotional material. This is because if you want to create a luxury campaign, then it's a good idea to use a glossy printing effect as it creates the impression of richness, particularly in brochures. You would then use a gloss meter to make sure that the gloss on the printed brochure was even and everything was consistent so they could be distributed to customers.

Finally, gloss meters are also often used in the furniture industry. You are probably aware that often when furniture is completed it is finished with a varnish or lacquer to give it a sheen and to protect the wood underneath. If this lacquer chips off then the wood could potentially become damaged so it is important that the furniture is evenly coated. Gloss meters are used to ensure that all the furniture is covered with the same level of gloss so it appears uniform.

About the Author: Frank Cole