Potential ultimate reflectivity test

[BoxsterCharlie]

I don't have a garage, so I can't do this. When I finally do, I've been dreaming of trying this.



Materials:

-Digital camera of decent quality

-Tripod

-Halogen lights on stand

-Computer with Photoshop



Technique:

1) Pull undetailed car into garage at night (no ambient light change allowed)

2) Focus the halogen lights on a section of hood

3) Align the camera/tripod to point at the hood

4) Set the camera up without flash, and with all manual mode so that settings don't change. Fire off a shot.

5) Procede with detailing steps, take pictures as you go. Document each photo/step

6) Open each file in Photoshop and run histograms on the image, measuring various highlights and comparing them

7) Post all sorts of cool results here! If done right, the images should scientifically prove levels of reflectivity. (Not resolving the issues of "depth" obviously, but still some interesting data points)



Actually I can help with step #6, I'm a Photoshop guru. But I don't have a nice, controlled garage environment



What do you guys think of this test? Anyone want to try it?

 

[BoxsterCharlie]

Wow, 70 views and no replies! I guess I should check myself into the rubber room...this idea is too over-the-top even for Autopians!!!

 

[mlebarron]

I've got a garage...



my roommate has an undetailed dark green car that he wants detailed...



roommate also has a 4 mp digital camera... with manual modes (Canon Powershot s400)



could be doable

 

[SP 325i]

Paint companies and automotive companies use a simple bit of kit for measuring depth of image (DOI). Basically you look at a scale and the last clear value you can see gives a DOI value, obviously the higher the better with 100 being tops (not to be confused with gloss).

Also Toyota like you to measure orange peel by scanning the paint and getting wavelength readings back. This gives a smoothness sort of value as the peaks and troughs (orange peel ) affect the wavelength reading.



all good stuff eh!!



Steve

 

[BoxsterCharlie]

I've got a garage...



my roommate has an undetailed dark green car that he wants detailed...



roommate also has a 4 mp digital camera... with manual modes (Canon Powershot s400)



could be doable

Sounds great! Let me know if I can help in any way. Actually I'd work on inviting myself over but I have a very busy schedule this month.



Steve, I'd love to learn more about this orange peel DOI too. My Boxster has a surprising amount of orange peel, and it would be interesting to see how it stacks up. There was post about a month ago about a new Bentley and how it had PERFECT paint (dozens of layers!).

 

[imported_doug]

I came close a few years back when I reviewed zaino. I did most of what you said except compare histograms. Yours is a neat idea. frankly, though, I suspect you won't be able to detect a difference.



There ARE some devices called "gloss meters" and "haze meters" - they sit ON the surface to lremove any stray light, shine light down at an angle and measure the reflection (gloss) or dispersion (haze) or both. I really wanted to try one of these but they aren't cheap ($2K and up if I remember) and I was unable to find anyone willing to rent or lend one.