The new device from Pantone, called Capsure, measures and matches colours instantly - from small, patterned, multi-coloured textures and textiles to walls and carpeting. It reads a sample and displays the results as the nearest Pantone colour, and also as CMYK breakdowns.

Colour inspiration even from surfaces like metal can be accurately identified. The device uses tri-directional image capture technology, eliminating the shadows and interference sometimes be caused by patterned and textured surfaces.

Capsure works by illuminating the surface, and measuring from three different sections. It simultaneously records 27 colour-accurate images in 1.6 seconds. It can extract up to four dominant colours from an intricate pattern.

"Capsure's advanced image capture technology sets a new standard for accuracy and versatility in a portable device," says Giovanni Marra, director of corporate marketing at Pantone. "The real power of Capsure is its ability to measure the colour of any surface...which can confound other instruments because of their textural complexity, and quickly match them to more than 8,000 Pantone colours."

The device retails for US $649. It comes pre-loaded with all Pantone Colour Libraries. It can store captured images for later reference, and can record the last 100 colours measured for later reference. Users can annotate colours with a voice recording as well as a time and date stamp.