Gloss Meters | Konica Minolta
Multi-Gloss 268A
The Konica Minolta Multi-Gloss 268A is a portable digital gloss meter that measures specular gloss at three angles — 20°, 60°, and 85° — in a single compact instrument. The Multi-Gloss 268A gloss meter covers the full range of gloss levels from high-gloss (20°), medium-gloss (60°), to matte/low-gloss (85°) surfaces, making it the most versatile single gloss meter in Konica Minolta's range. The instrument conforms to ASTM D523, ISO 2813, ISO 7668, JIS Z 8741, and BS 3900 Part D5 standards for gloss measurement. With its lightweight design, large memory capacity, and statistical functions (mean, standard deviation, min, max, coefficient of variation), the Multi-Gloss 268A is the standard gloss meter for quality control in the paints, coatings, plastics, automotive, paper, and printing industries worldwide.
About the Konica Minolta Multi-Gloss 268A Gloss Meter
The Konica Minolta Multi-Gloss 268A is a portable digital gloss meter that measures specular gloss at three angles — 20°, 60°, and 85° — in a single compact instrument. The Multi-Gloss 268A gloss meter covers the full range of gloss levels from high-gloss (20°), medium-gloss (60°), to matte/low-gloss (85°) surfaces, making it the most versatile single gloss meter in Konica Minolta's range. The instrument conforms to ASTM D523, ISO 2813, ISO 7668, JIS Z 8741, and BS 3900 Part D5 standards for gloss measurement. With its lightweight design, large memory capacity, and statistical functions (mean, standard deviation, min, max, coefficient of variation), the Multi-Gloss 268A is the standard gloss meter for quality control in the paints, coatings, plastics, automotive, paper, and printing industries worldwide.
Features
- Triple-angle 20°/60°/85° measurement
- Automatic angle selection
- Statistical functions
- Memory for targets and samples
- RS-232C and USB connectivity
Specifications
| Measurement Angles | 20°, 60°, 85° |
|---|---|
| Measurement Ranges | 20°: 0–2,000 GU | 60°: 0–1,000 GU | 85°: 0–160 GU |
| Resolution | 0.1 GU (0–99.9 GU), 1 GU (≥100 GU) |
| Repeatability | ±0.2 GU (0–99.9 GU), ±0.2% (>100 GU) |
| Reproducibility | ±0.5 GU (0–99.9 GU), ±0.5% (>100 GU) |
| Light Source | LED (white) |
| Measurement Spot | 20°: 10 × 10 mm | 60°: 9 × 15 mm | 85°: 5 × 38 mm |
| Display | Backlit LCD |
| Statistics | Mean, std dev, min, max, CV%, delta |
| Data Memory | 999 measurements (300 groups) |
| Interface | RS-232C (USB optional) |
| Power | 4× AA batteries or AC adapter |
| Dimensions | 155 × 73 × 48 mm |
| Weight | Approx. 400 g (without batteries) |
| Standards | ASTM D523, ISO 2813, ISO 7668, JIS Z 8741 |
Measurement Principle of the Multi-Gloss 268A Gloss Meter
Gloss is defined as the ratio of specularly reflected light to incident light from a surface, expressed as gloss units (GU) relative to a reference standard. The Multi-Gloss 268A projects a defined light beam onto the sample surface at a specified angle and measures the intensity of the specularly reflected beam at the equal-but-opposite angle.
At 20°, the narrow acceptance angle makes this geometry sensitive to small differences in high-gloss surfaces (>70 GU). At 60°, the mid-range geometry is the universal reference angle suitable for all gloss levels. At 85°, the shallow angle is optimized for differentiating between very low-gloss (matte) surfaces. The three angles together provide a complete gloss profile of any surface.
Applications of the Multi-Gloss 268A Gloss Meter
Paints and Coatings
Gloss monitoring during paint manufacturing, application, and curing to ensure specified gloss levels are achieved.
Automotive
Body paint gloss verification at various stages: primer, basecoat, clearcoat, and after polish.
Plastics
Gloss consistency of injection-molded parts, films, and packaging materials.
Paper and Printing
Gloss measurement of coated paper, magazine covers, labels, and printed packaging.
Flooring and Building Materials
Gloss specification compliance for laminates, tiles, and decorative surfaces.
Q: When should I use each measurement angle?
A: Use 20° for high-gloss surfaces (>70 GU), 60° for all-purpose measurement (10–70 GU), and 85° for matte surfaces (<10 GU). The 60° angle is the default for general use.
Q: What standards does the Multi-Gloss 268A comply with?
A: ASTM D523, ISO 2813, ISO 7668, JIS Z 8741, and BS 3900 Part D5.
