What is a gloss unit?

The measurement scale, Gloss Units (GU), of gloss meters is a scaling based on a highly polished reference black glass standard with a defined refractive index having a specular reflectance of 100GU at the specified angle.

This standard is used to establish an upper point calibration of 100 with the lower end point established at 0 on a perfectly matt surface. This scaling is suitable for most non-metallic coatings and materials (paints and plastics) as they generally fall within this range.

For other materials, highly reflective in appearance (mirrors, plated / raw metal components), higher values can be achieved reaching 2000 Gloss Units when measured at 20ยฐ.

Related products

Rhopoint Novo-Curve 4 Product Image with text

Novo-Curve 4 Glossmeter

  • Benchtop glossmeter, Measures at 60ยฐ
  • Suitable for both curved & flat surfaces
  • Precise measurement of small areas & irregular shapes
  • Custom adaptor jigs available
  • To ensure accurate and reliable results, the Novo-Curve 4 Glossmeter is supplied with standards calibrated and certified according to ISO 17025 UKAS

What is a gloss unit?

Rhopoint Instruments
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