Unlike existing paint department spectrophotometers that require a paint sample to make physical contact against a viewing port, the company has said that the iVue measures samples from a distance of about 1.5 inches.

Kenneth Phillips, product manager in X-Rite’s industrial color and appearance division that developed the iVue, said his company leveraged proven X-Rite technology while incorporated suggestions from its customers and changing market demands.

Mr Phillips said: The number one service call that we get from customers with paint matching equipment is contamination on the viewing port.