SCI refers to the inclusion of specular reflected light mode, generally used for those who study the properties of the color itself without concern for the color attached to the surface gloss of the sample manufacturers, such as paint coating factories. SCE refers to the method that does not contain specular reflected light, which is generally suitable for those samples that are directly observed and require measurement results to be very close to the visual view, such as home appliance housings.
In the SCE measurement mode, specular reflected light is excluded and only diffuse light is measured. The value thus measured is comparable to the color of the object as it appears to the observer. When SCI mode is used, specular reflected light is included in the measurement along with diffuse light. The value measured in this way is the overall objective color of the object, and has nothing to do with the surface conditions of the object. These criteria must be taken into account when we choose an instrument. Some instruments can also measure values in both SCE and SCI modes.
SCI and SCE options generally only appear in the Settings of color measuring instruments of the d/8 structure.
Even if the object is made of the same material, the color will look different due to the difference in surface gloss.
Because light from a light source produces light that is reflected back from the same Angle in different directions, we call it specular reflected light, because the light is like being reflected back by a mirror. Light that is not reflected by specular reflection but scattered in all directions is called diffuse light. The sum of specular and diffuse light is what we call reflected light.
On smooth, bright surfaces, specular light is stronger and diffuse light is weaker. On rough surfaces with low gloss, the opposite is true. When people observe the color of the object, they ignore the specular reflected light. When measuring such samples, in order to make the data look the same as the object, they must exclude the specular reflected light and only measure the diffuse light. The color of an object is different because of the amount of light reflected by the mirror we observe.