title: A low-cost real color picker based on Arduino.
abstract: Color measurements have traditionally been linked to expensive and difficult to handle equipment. The set of mathematical transformations that are needed to transfer a color that we observe in any object that doesn't emit its own light (which is usually called a color-object) so that it can be displayed on a computer screen or printed on paper is not at all trivial. This usually requires a thorough knowledge of color spaces, colorimetric transformations and color management systems. The TCS3414CS color sensor (I2C Sensor Color Grove), a system for capturing, processing and color management that allows the colors of any non-self-luminous object using a low-cost hardware based on Arduino, is presented in this paper. Specific software has been developed in Matlab and a study of the linearity of chromatic channels and accuracy of color measurements for this device has been undertaken. All used scripts (Arduino and Matlab) are attached as supplementary material. The results show acceptable accuracy values that, although obviously do not reach the levels obtained with the other scientific instruments, for the price difference they present a good low cost option.
authors.affiliation: University Center of Merida, University of Extremadura, Sta. Teresa de Jornet, 38, Mérida 06800, Spain. jeagudo@unex.es.
authors.forename: Juan Enrique
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Agudo
authors.affiliation: University Center of Merida, University of Extremadura, Sta. Teresa de Jornet, 38, Mérida 06800, Spain. pjpardo@unex.es.
authors.forename: Pedro J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.affiliation: University Center of Merida, University of Extremadura, Sta. Teresa de Jornet, 38, Mérida 06800, Spain. sasah@unex.es.
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, University of Extremadura, Avda. Elvas s/n, Badajoz 06006, Spain. aluis@unex.es.
authors.forename: Ángel Luis
authors.initials: ÁL
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, University of Extremadura, Avda. Elvas s/n, Badajoz 06006, Spain. suero@unex.es.
authors.forename: María Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Suero