Glanzgrades

Glanzgrades is a term used in German-speaking contexts to describe and categorize the shine or gloss of surface finishes, especially in coatings, plastics, and paper. It refers to a system that assigns a level or grade to a surface based on its specular reflectance, providing a concise way to communicate appearance properties in quality control, product specifications, and procurement.

Measurement and scales

Gloss is measured with a gloss meter, which reports a gloss value in gloss units (GU) or percent reflectance. Measurements are typically performed at standardized angles, most commonly 60 degrees, but additional angles such as 20 or 85 degrees may be used depending on the material and required sensitivity. Standards that govern gloss measurements include ISO 2813 and ASTM D523, which describe procedures and reporting formats. In practice, Glanzgrades can be expressed as numeric ranges (for example 0–100 GU) or as qualitative classes (for example low-matte, matte, satin, semi-gloss, high-gloss).

Applications

Glanzgrades are used across industries to specify and compare finishes on automotive coatings, furniture, consumer electronics, packaging, and paper products. They aid in quality control, supplier specifications, and consumer information, allowing a consistent expectation of appearance.

Considerations and limitations

Gloss perception is influenced by lighting, viewing angle, texture, and underlying substrate. Two surfaces with similar gloss values may be perceived differently if they have differing microtextures. Therefore, Glanzgrades should be used alongside other surface properties such as roughness, color, and texture. Measurement requires proper calibration and standardization to ensure comparability across batches and suppliers.