Reading Dye-Based Colorimetric Inks: Achieving Color Consistency Using Color QR Codes
Color consistency when reading colorimetric sensors is a key factor for this technology. Here, we demonstrate how the usage of machine-readable patterns, like QR codes, can be used to solve the problem. We present our approach of using back-compatible color QR codes as colorimetric sensors, which ar...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Chemosensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/12/12/260 |
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| author | Ismael Benito-Altamirano Laura Engel Ferran Crugeira Miriam Marchena Jürgen Wöllenstein Joan Daniel Prades Cristian Fàbrega |
| author_facet | Ismael Benito-Altamirano Laura Engel Ferran Crugeira Miriam Marchena Jürgen Wöllenstein Joan Daniel Prades Cristian Fàbrega |
| author_sort | Ismael Benito-Altamirano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Color consistency when reading colorimetric sensors is a key factor for this technology. Here, we demonstrate how the usage of machine-readable patterns, like QR codes, can be used to solve the problem. We present our approach of using back-compatible color QR codes as colorimetric sensors, which are common QR codes that also embed a set of hundreds of color references as well as colorimetric indicators. The method allows locating the colorimetric sensor within the captured scene and to perform automated color correction to ensure color consistency regardless of the hardware used. To demonstrate it, a <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><msub><mi>O</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>-sensitive colorimetric indicator was printed on top of a paper-based substrate using screen printing. This indicator was formulated for Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) applications. To verify the method, the sensors were exposed to several environmental conditions (both in gas composition and light conditions). And, images were captured with an 8M pixel digital camera sensor, similar to those used in smartphones. Our results show that the sensors have a relative error of 9% when exposed with a <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><msub><mi>O</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> concentration of 20%. This is a good result for low-cost disposable sensors that are not intended for permanent use. However, as soon as light conditions change (2500–6500 K), this error increases up to <b><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">ϵ</mi><mn mathvariant="bold">20</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula></b> = 440% (rel. error at 20% <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><msub><mi>O</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> concentration) rendering the sensors unusable. Within this work, we demonstrate that our color QR codes can reduce the relative error to <b><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">ϵ</mi><mn mathvariant="bold">20</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula></b> = 14%. Furthermore, we show that the most common color correction, white balance, is not sufficient to address the color consistency issue, resulting in a relative error of <b><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">ϵ</mi><mn mathvariant="bold">20</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula></b> = 90%. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2227-9040 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Chemosensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-dc7ff2e9ab8b47058645b9aaf6c4eec02025-08-20T02:00:19ZengMDPI AGChemosensors2227-90402024-12-01121226010.3390/chemosensors12120260Reading Dye-Based Colorimetric Inks: Achieving Color Consistency Using Color QR CodesIsmael Benito-Altamirano0Laura Engel1Ferran Crugeira2Miriam Marchena3Jürgen Wöllenstein4Joan Daniel Prades5Cristian Fàbrega6MIND/IN2UB, Department of Electronics and Biomedical Engineering, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, SpainFraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM, 79110 Freiburg, GermanyDepartment of Chemistry, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, SpainColorSensing, 08028 Barcelona, SpainFraunhofer Institute for Physical Measurement Techniques IPM, 79110 Freiburg, GermanyColorSensing, 08028 Barcelona, SpainMIND/IN2UB, Department of Electronics and Biomedical Engineering, Universitat de Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, SpainColor consistency when reading colorimetric sensors is a key factor for this technology. Here, we demonstrate how the usage of machine-readable patterns, like QR codes, can be used to solve the problem. We present our approach of using back-compatible color QR codes as colorimetric sensors, which are common QR codes that also embed a set of hundreds of color references as well as colorimetric indicators. The method allows locating the colorimetric sensor within the captured scene and to perform automated color correction to ensure color consistency regardless of the hardware used. To demonstrate it, a <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><msub><mi>O</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula>-sensitive colorimetric indicator was printed on top of a paper-based substrate using screen printing. This indicator was formulated for Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) applications. To verify the method, the sensors were exposed to several environmental conditions (both in gas composition and light conditions). And, images were captured with an 8M pixel digital camera sensor, similar to those used in smartphones. Our results show that the sensors have a relative error of 9% when exposed with a <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><msub><mi>O</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> concentration of 20%. This is a good result for low-cost disposable sensors that are not intended for permanent use. However, as soon as light conditions change (2500–6500 K), this error increases up to <b><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">ϵ</mi><mn mathvariant="bold">20</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula></b> = 440% (rel. error at 20% <inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><mrow><mi>C</mi><msub><mi>O</mi><mn>2</mn></msub></mrow></semantics></math></inline-formula> concentration) rendering the sensors unusable. Within this work, we demonstrate that our color QR codes can reduce the relative error to <b><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">ϵ</mi><mn mathvariant="bold">20</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula></b> = 14%. Furthermore, we show that the most common color correction, white balance, is not sufficient to address the color consistency issue, resulting in a relative error of <b><inline-formula><math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" display="inline"><semantics><msub><mi mathvariant="sans-serif">ϵ</mi><mn mathvariant="bold">20</mn></msub></semantics></math></inline-formula></b> = 90%.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/12/12/260colorimetric sensorscolor consistencycolor QR codescolor correctionmachine-readable patterns |
| spellingShingle | Ismael Benito-Altamirano Laura Engel Ferran Crugeira Miriam Marchena Jürgen Wöllenstein Joan Daniel Prades Cristian Fàbrega Reading Dye-Based Colorimetric Inks: Achieving Color Consistency Using Color QR Codes Chemosensors colorimetric sensors color consistency color QR codes color correction machine-readable patterns |
| title | Reading Dye-Based Colorimetric Inks: Achieving Color Consistency Using Color QR Codes |
| title_full | Reading Dye-Based Colorimetric Inks: Achieving Color Consistency Using Color QR Codes |
| title_fullStr | Reading Dye-Based Colorimetric Inks: Achieving Color Consistency Using Color QR Codes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reading Dye-Based Colorimetric Inks: Achieving Color Consistency Using Color QR Codes |
| title_short | Reading Dye-Based Colorimetric Inks: Achieving Color Consistency Using Color QR Codes |
| title_sort | reading dye based colorimetric inks achieving color consistency using color qr codes |
| topic | colorimetric sensors color consistency color QR codes color correction machine-readable patterns |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9040/12/12/260 |
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