Designation: D523 – 08

Standard Test Method for

Specular Gloss1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D523; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
This standard has been approved for use by agencies of the Department of Defense.

1. Scope Deg 0-Deg, of Opaque Specimens by Broad-Band Filter

1.1 This test method covers the measurement of the specular Reflectometry4
gloss of nonmetallic specimens for glossmeter geometries of E430 Test Methods for Measurement of Gloss of High-
60, 20, and 85° (1-7).2 Gloss Surfaces by Abridged Goniophotometry
1.2 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded 3. Terminology
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only 3.1 Definitions:
and are not considered standard. 3.1.1 relative luminous reflectance factor, n—the ratio of
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the the luminous flux reflected from a specimen to the luminous
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the flux reflected from a standard surface under the same geometric
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- conditions. For the purpose of measuring specular gloss, the
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- standard surface is polished glass.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. 3.1.2 specular gloss, n—the relative luminous reflectance
factor of a specimen in the mirror direction.
2. Referenced Documents
4. Summary of Test Method
2.1 ASTM Standards:3
D823 Practices for Producing Films of Uniform Thickness 4.1 Measurements are made with 60, 20, or 85° geometry
of Paint, Varnish, and Related Products on Test Panels (8, 9). The geometry of angles and apertures is chosen so that
D3964 Practice for Selection of Coating Specimens for these procedures may be used as follows:
Appearance Measurements 4.1.1 The 60° geometry is used for intercomparing most
D3980 Practice for Interlaboratory Testing of Paint and specimens and for determining when the 20° geometry may be
Related Materials4 more applicable.
D4039 Test Method for Reflection Haze of High-Gloss 4.1.2 The 20° geometry is advantageous for comparing
Surfaces specimens having 60° gloss values higher than 70.
E97 Test Method for Directional Reflectance Factor, 45- 4.1.3 The 85° geometry is used for comparing specimens
for sheen or near-grazing shininess. It is most frequently
applied when specimens have 60° gloss values lower than 10.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E12 on Color 5. Significance and Use
and Appearance and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E12.03 on
Geometry.
5.1 Gloss is associated with the capacity of a surface to
Current edition approved June 1, 2008. Published June 2008. Originally reflect more light in directions close to the specular than in
approved in 1939. Last previous edition approved in 2008 as D523 – 89 (2008). others. Measurements by this test method correlate with visual
DOI: 10.1520/D0523-08. observations of surface shininess made at roughly the corre-
2
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references at the end of
this test method. sponding angles.
3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or 5.1.1 Measured gloss ratings by this test method are ob-
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM tained by comparing the specular reflectance from the speci-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
the ASTM website.
men to that from a black glass standard. Since specular
4
Withdrawn. The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced reflectance depends also on the surface refractive index of the
on www.astm.org. specimen, the measured gloss ratings change as the surface

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 D523 – 08
refractive index changes. In obtaining the visual gloss ratings, trated in Fig. 1, and from the test surface in a converging-
however, it is customary to compare the specular reflectances beam-type instrument, as illustrated in Fig. 2. See Fig. 1 and
of two specimens having similar surface refractive indices. Fig. 2 for a generalized illustration of the dimensions. The
5.2 Other visual aspects of surface appearance, such as tolerances are chosen so that errors in the source and receptor
distinctness of reflected images, reflection haze, and texture, apertures do not produce an error of more than one gloss unit
are frequently involved in the assessment of gloss (1), (6), (7). at any point on the scale (5).
Test Method E430 includes techniques for the measurement of 6.2.1 The important geometric dimensions of any specular-
both distinctness-of-image gloss and reflection haze. Test gloss measurement are:
Method D4039 provides an alternative procedure for measur- 6.2.1.1 Beam axis angle(s), usually 60, 20, or 85°.
ing reflection haze. 6.2.1.2 Accepted angular divergences from principal rays
5.3 Little information about the relation of numerical-to- (degree of spreading or diffusion of the reflected beam).
perceptual intervals of specular gloss has been published. NOTE 1—The parallel-beam glossmeters possess the better uniformity
However, in many applications the gloss scales of this test of principle-ray angle of reflection, but the converging-beam glossmeters
method have provided instrumental scaling of coated speci- possess the better uniformity in extent of angular divergence accepted for
mens that have agreed well with visual scaling (10). measurement.
5.4 When specimens differing widely in perceived gloss or NOTE 2—Polarization—An evaluation of the impact of polarization on
color, or both, are compared, nonlinearity may be encountered gloss measurement has been reported (11). The magnitude of the polar-
in the relationship between visual gloss difference ratings and ization error depends on the difference between the refractive indices of
specimen and standard, the angle of incidence, and the degree of
instrumental gloss reading differences. polarization. Because the specimen and standard are generally quite
similar optically, measured gloss values are little affected by polarization.
6. Apparatus
6.3 Vignetting—There shall be no vignetting of rays that lie
6.1 Instrumental Components—The apparatus shall consist within the field angles specified in Table 1.
of a light source furnishing an incident beam, means for 6.4 Spectral Conditions—Results should not differ signifi-
locating the surface of the specimen, and a receptor located to cantly from those obtained with a source-filter photocell
receive the required pyramid of rays reflected by the specimen. combination that is spectrally corrected to yield CIE luminous
The receptor shall be a photosensitive device responding to efficiency with CIE source C. Since specular reflection is, in
visible radiation. general, spectrally nonselective, spectral corrections need to be
6.2 Geometric Conditions—The axis of the incident beam applied only to highly chromatic, low-gloss specimens upon
shall be at one of the specified angles from the perpendicular to agreement of users of this test method.
the specimen surface. The axis of the receptor shall be at the 6.5 Measurement Mechanism—The receptor-measurement
mirror reflection of the axis of the incident beam. The axis of mechanism shall give a numerical indication that is propor-
the incident beam and the axis of the receptor shall be within tional to the light flux passing the receptor field stop with
0.1° of the nominal value indicated by the geometry. With a flat 61 % of full-scale reading.
piece of polished black glass or other front-surface mirror in
the specimen position, an image of the source shall be formed 7. Reference Standards
at the center of the receptor field stop (receptor window). The
length of the illuminated area of the specimen shall be not more 7.1 Primary Standards—Highly polished, plane, black glass
than one third of the distance from the center of this area to the with a refractive index of 1.567 for the sodium D line shall be
receptor field stop. The dimensions and tolerance of the source assigned a specular gloss value of 100 for each geometry. The
and receptor shall be as indicated in Table 1. The angular gloss value for glass of any other refractive index can be
dimensions of the receptor field stop are measured from the computed from the Fresnel equation (5). For small differences
receptor lens in a collimated-beam-type instrument, as illus- in refractive index, however, the gloss value is a linear function
of index, but the rate of change of gloss with index is different
for each geometry. Each 0.001 increment in refractive index
TABLE 1 Angles and Relative Dimensions of Source Image and produces a change of 0.27, 0.16, and 0.016 in the gloss value
Receptors assigned to a polished standard for the 20, 60, and 85°
In Plane of Perpendicular to geometries, respectively. For example, glass of index 1.527
Measurement Plane of Measurement would be assigned values of 89.2, 93.6, and 99.4, in order of
u,° 2 tan u/2
Relative
u, ° 2 tan u/2
Relative increasing geometry.
Dimension Dimension
7.2 Working Standards—Ceramic tile, depolished ground
Source image 0.75 0.0131 0.171 2.5 0.0436 0.568 opaque glass, emery paper, and other semigloss materials
Tolerance 6 0.25 0.0044 0.057 0.5 0.0087 0.114
having hard and uniform surfaces are suitable when calibrated
60° receptor 4.4 0.0768 1.000 11.7 0.2049 2.668 against a primary standard on a glossmeter known to meet the
Tolerance 6 0.1 0.0018 0.023 0.2 0.0035 0.046 requirements of this test method. Such standards should be
20° receptor 1.8 0.0314 0.409 3.6 0.0629 0.819 checked periodically for constancy by comparing with primary
Tolerance 6 0.05 0.0009 0.012 0.1 0.0018 0.023 standards.
7.3 Store standards in a closed container when not in use.
85° receptor 4.0 0.0698 0.909 6.0 0.1048 1.365
Tolerance 6 0.3 0.0052 0.068 0.3 0.0052 0.068 Keep them clean and away from any dirt that might scratch or
mar their surfaces. Never place standards face down on a

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 D523 – 08

FIG. 1 Diagram of Parallel-Beam Glossmeter Showing Apertures and Source Mirror-Image Position

FIG. 2 Diagram of Converging-Beam Glossmeter Showing Apertures and Source Mirror-Image Position

surface that may be dirty or abrasive. Always hold standards at subtract it algebraically from subsequent readings or adjust the
the side edges to avoid getting oil from the skin on the standard instrument to read zero.
surface. Clean the standards in warm water and a mild 9.3 Calibrate the instrument at the start and completion of
detergent solution brushing gently with a soft nylon brush. (Do every period of glossmeter operation, and during the operation
not use soap solutions to clean standards, because they can at sufficiently frequent intervals to assure that the instrument
leave a film.) Rinse standards in hot running water (tempera- response is practically constant. To calibrate, adjust the instru-
ture near 150°F (65°C)) to remove detergent solution, followed ment to read correctly the gloss of a highly polished standard,
by a final rinse in distilled water. Do not wipe standards. The properly positioned and oriented, and then read the gloss of a
polished black glass high-gloss standard may be dabbed gently working standard in the mid-gloss range. If the instrument
with a lint-free paper towel or other lint-free absorbent reading for the second standard does not agree within one unit
material. Place the rinsed standards in a warm oven to dry. of its assigned values, check cleanliness and repeat. If the
instrument reading for the second standard still does not agree
8. Preparation and Selection of Test Specimens within one unit of its assigned value, repeat with another
8.1 This test method does not cover preparation techniques. mid-range standard. If the disparity is still more than one unit,
Whenever a test for gloss requires the preparation of test do not use the instrument without readjustment, preferably by
specimens, use the procedures given in Practice D823. the manufacturer.
NOTE 3—To determine the maximum gloss obtainable from a test 10. Procedure
material, such as a paint or varnish, use Methods B or C of Practice D823.
10.1 Position each specimen in turn beneath (or on) the
8.2 Select specimens in accordance with Practice D3964. glossmeter. For specimens with brush marks or similar texture
effects, place them in such a way that the directions of the
9. Instrument Calibration marks are parallel to the plane of the axes of the incident and
9.1 Operate the glossmeter in accordance with the manufac- reflected beams.
turer’s instructions. 10.2 Take at least three readings on a 3 by 6-in. (75 by
9.2 Verify the instrument zero by placing a black cavity in 150-mm) area of the test specimen. If the range is greater than
the specified position. If the reading is not within 60.1 of zero, two gloss units, take additional readings and calculate the mean

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 D523 – 08
after discarding divergent results as in the section on Test for TABLE 3 Standard Deviation of Gloss Determinations
Outliers of Practice D3980. For larger specimens, take a No. of
Degrees of Freedom Standard Deviations
proportionately greater number of readings. Type of Within- Between- Within- Between-
Ceramic
Gloss,° Labora- Labora- Labora- Labora-
Tiles A
tory tories tory toriesB
11. Diffuse Correction 20 4 40 34 0.4 1.2
11.1 Apply diffuse corrections only upon agreement be- 60 4 40 34 0.3 1.2
85 2 16 6 0.2 0.6
tween the producer and the user. To apply the correction,
Degrees of Freedom Standard Deviations
subtract it from the glossmeter reading. To measure the Type of
No. of
Within- Between- Within- Between-
Painted
correction, illuminate the specimen perpendicularly and view Gloss,°
Panels
Labora- Labora- Labora- Labora-
at the incident angle with the receiver aperture specified in 6.2 tory tories toryA toriesB
20 8 80 72 0.6 2.2
for the corresponding geometry. To compute the correction, 60 22 220 136 0.3 1.2
multiply the 45°, 0° directional reflectance of the specimen, 85 6 48 18 0.3 2.4
determined in accordance with Test Method E97, by the A
Single determinations.
B
effective fraction of the luminous flux reflected by the perfect For means of three determinations.
diffuse reflector and accepted by the receiver aperture. The
luminous flux entering the receiver aperture from the perfect 13. Precision
white diffusor would give the following gloss indications for
13.1 On the basis of studies of this test method by several
each of the geometries:
laboratories in which single determinations were made on
Geometry, ° Gloss of Perfect White Diffuser
60 2.5 different days on several ceramic tiles and painted panels
20 1.2 differing in visually perceived gloss, the pooled within-
85 0.03 laboratory and between-laboratories standard deviations were
12. Report found to be those shown in Table 3. Based on these standard
deviations, the following criteria should be used for judging the
12.1 Report the information following: acceptability of results at the 95 % confidence level:
12.1.1 Mean specular gloss readings and the geometry used. 13.1.1 Repeatability—Two results, each of which are single
12.1.2 If uniformity of surface is of interest, the presence of determinations obtained on the same specimen by the same
any specimen that exhibits gloss readings varying by more than operator, should be considered suspect if they differ by more
5 % from their mean. than the maximum acceptable differences given in Table 2.
12.1.3 Where preparation of the test specimen has been 13.1.2 Reproducibility—Two results, each the mean of three
necessary, a description or identification of the method of determinations, obtained on the same specimen by different
preparation. laboratories should be considered suspect if they differ by more
12.1.4 Manufacturer’s name and model designation of the than the maximum acceptable differences given in Table 2.
glossmeter. This does not include variability due to preparation of panels in
12.1.5 Working standard or standards of gloss used. different laboratories.
TABLE 2 Maximum Acceptable Differences for Two Results NOTE 4—For some types of paint, particularly semi-gloss, the measured
gloss is affected by method of film preparation and drying conditions so
Repeatability Reproducibility
Type of (Within Laboratories)A (Between Laboratories)B
that the reproducibility of results from such materials may be poorer than
Gloss,° Ceramic Painted Ceramic Painted the values given in Table 2.
Tiles Panels Tiles Panels
20 1.1 1.7 3.5 6.4 14. Keywords
60 0.9 0.9 3.4 3.5
85 0.6 0.8 2.0 7.2 14.1 appearance; directional reflectance factor; gloss; go-
A
Single determinations. niophotometry; high gloss; relative luminous reflectance fac-
B
For means of three determinations. tor; specular gloss

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 D523 – 08
REFERENCES

(1) Hunter, R. S., “Methods of Determining Gloss,” Proceedings, ASTM, ASTM and other societies, describing the background in the choice of
Vol 36, 1936, Part II, p. 783. Also, Journal of Research, Nat. Bureau geometry of these methods. Contains photographs depicting gloss
Standards, Vol 18, No. 1, January 1937, p. 19 (Research Paper characteristics of a variety of methods.
RP958). Six somewhat different appearance attributes are shown to be (7) Hunter, R. S., The Measurement of Appearance, Wiley-Interscience,
variously associated with gloss. Therefore, as many as six different New York, 1975, Chapter 6, “Scales for Gloss and Other Geometric
photometric scales may be required to handle all gloss measurement Attributes,” and Chapter 13, “Instruments for the Geometric Attributes
problems. (This paper is out of print). of Object Appearance.”
(2) Hunter, R. S., and Judd, D. B., “Development of a Method of (8) Horning, S. C., and Morse, M. P., “Measurement of the Gloss of Paint
Classifying Paint According to Gloss,” ASTM Bulletin, No. 97, Panels,” Offıcial Digest, Federation of Paint and Varnish Production
March 1939, p. 11. A comparison is made of several geometrically Clubs, March 1947, p. 153. A study of the effect of geometric
different photometric scales for separating paint finishes for gloss. The conditions on results of gloss tests with special attention to high-gloss
geometric conditions of test later incorporated in Test Method D523 panels.
are recommended. (9) Huey, S., Hunter, R. S., Schreckendgust, J. G., and Hammond, H. K.,
(3) Wetlaufer, L. A., and Scott, W. E., “The Measurement of Gloss,” III, “Symposium on Gloss Measurement,” Offıcial Digest, Vol 36,
Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Analytical Edition, Vol 12, No. 471, April 1964, p. 343. Contains discussion of industrial
November 1940, p. 647. A goniophotometric study of a number of experience in measurement of 60° specular gloss (Huey), high-gloss
paint finishes illuminated at 45°; a study of gloss readings affected by measurement (Hunter), evaluation of low-gloss finishes with 85° sheen
variation of aperture for 45 and 60° incidence. measurements (Schreckendgust), and gloss standards and glossmeter
(4) Hunter, R. S., “The Gloss Measurement of Paint Finishes,” ASTM standardization (Hammond).
Bulletin, No. 150, January 1948, p. 72. History of Test Method D523. (10) Billmeyer, F. W., Jr., O’Donnell, F. X. D., “Visual Gloss Scaling and
(5) Hammond, H. K., III, and Nimerroff, I., “Measurement of Sixty- Multidimensional Scaling Analysis of Painted Specimens,” Color
Degree Specular Gloss,” Journal of Research, Nat. Bureau Standards. Research and Application, Vol 12, 1987, pp 315–326. Compares
A study of the effect of aperture variation on glossmeter readings, visual difference ratings with instrumental measurements of specular
including definitions of terms used in connection with specular gloss gloss, distinctness of image gloss, and haze for series of black, gray,
measurement, the Fresnel equation in a form readily usable for and white painted specimens. The data are analyzed by multidimen-
computation, and the deviation of diffuse correction formulas. sional scaling.
(6) Hunter, R. S., “Gloss Evaluation of Materials,” ASTM Bulletin, No. (11) Budde, W., “Stability Problems in Gloss Measurements,” Journal of
186, December 1952, p. 48. A study of the history of gloss methods in Coatings Technology, Vol 52, June 1980, pp. 44–48.

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