Brain Power Incorporated Weblog

BPI has introduced a new addition to its line of color analysis meters. The BPI RGB Spectrometer / Color Analyzer (PC 19504) joins the ranks of the BPI Spectrometer (PC 19501) and the BPI Dual Cuvette Spectrometer (PC 19502) as a cost effective means for checking and matching tinted lenses and filters. The BPI RGB Spectrometer looks at the three principal colors, red, green and blue, which the eye uses for making its color determinations. The meter then converts this information into color coordinate information, such as (L*, a* ,b*) or (x,y,Y) or (X,Y,Z) or even BPI's (R,G,B). This information is then used by the Companion PC Program to compare the sample color with that of another lens or filter (the standard) and predict what corrector tints and times would be needed to bring the sample close to the color standard.

BPI has added color space information to our website for those who would like to become better informed on the subject of color perception and analysis.

Several new tints have recently been added to the large BPI® tint family. These include

BPI® Mocha™ (34702): A light to medium honey brown.

BPI® FL-41™ (37616): A rose colored tint which independent researchers have found to be beneficial in treating photophobia, blepharospasm (uncontrollable blinking) and migraines by blocking portions of the blue-green spectrum.

BPI® Amber™ (20601): A honey shade of amber.

BPI® Drivers™ (37627): A brownish shade of amber that passes traffic light colors.

BPI® Melanin™ (37617): A yellowish-brown tint which mimics the absorption spectrum of natural melanin. This color reduces the destructive high-energy side of the visible spectrum while allowing enough blue light to provide natural perception of color.

Have you tried these yet? How did they work out for you?

We are often asked how to tint or color clear plastic parts. BPI® tints have been used to color many clear plastics, such as Acrylic (Plexiglas®), Polycarbonate (Lexan®), CR-39® (plastic eyeglass lens material), Nylon, Fiberglass, Mylar, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Vinyl, some Silicones, Epoxy and many others. We have made special tints for some of these materials, but many of them can be colored using any of our nearly 200 standard BPI® Molecular Catalytic™ Tints. Usually, these tints must be heated before the color will enter the plastic part and the color obtained depends on the type of plastic (or the coating on the plastic!) and the temperature of tinting. The results you would get for your plastic parts can best be determined by testing them with a heated multicomponent tint such as BPI® Molecular Catalytic™ Black. Let us know what plastics you have tried and what results you got!

Last week, the BPI web server suffered a catastrophic hard drive failure. It took several days to get the shopping cart running again, and tragically all of the posts in this blog were lost. For those who were paying attention, we hope to get some news and information to you on a regular basis again.