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Getting Started with

Frequently Asked Questions

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Connection and Troubleshooting

  • Make sure you have a strong signal on your smart device and your Bluetooth is on
  • Next, please reset and try to reconnect the device. To reset:
  • Hold the wake button down for 15 seconds. The Color Muse 2 will pulse through the several colors; ORANGE, RED, PURPLE, BLUE, GREEN, and YELLOW.
  • On your smart device turn Bluetooth off for 5 seconds and then turn it back on
  • Close and re-open the Color Muse app
  • Select “Connect Device”. Double-tap the button to initiate Bluetooth pairing. Your device will pulse WHITE then BLUE
  • Click on the serial number that you would like to connect to.
  • Once successfully connected, your device will pulse BLUE and the App will take you to the color match section.

    • If your device does not turn on, it may need to be recharged. Plug the device into any micro USB cable (one is provided within the Color Muse 2 package) and let it charge for 60 minutes. If this does not fix the issue, contact support or call +1.888.568.8588.

    If your shutter is jammed, please contact support or call +1.888.568.8588.

    Before making a scan, ensure the shutter is open on the device. Twist clockwise to open the unit. If the device continues providing white results, contact support or call +1.888.568.8588.

    If the top button seems stuck, contact support or call +1.888.568.8588.

    To power on, press the button on the top of the device once. The Color Muse 2 will turn off after 5 minutes unless the awake time has been changed in settings.

    The “awake” time refers to the time the Bluetooth remains connected without performing a color reading. The device will remain connected to the app, even when not in use. Changing the awake settings will shorten the battery life.

    To change the awake time, open the “Menu” and go to “Settings”. Locate the “Keep Color Sensor Awake” section. The app is defaulted to a 5 minute awake time.

    Yes! To change the time for disconnection, open the “Menu” and go to “Settings”. Locate the “Keep Color Sensor Awake” section to change the connection time.

    The “awake” time refers to the time the Bluetooth connection remains alive without performing a color reading. The connection may persist while the app is on and increase the timeout/disconnection time. This will lead to shorter battery life.

    Upon initial connection, the Color Muse app does require internet connectivity to pair to the color matching device. You will be able to search for the closest match after the device is paired with or without internet connection. For best experience, we recommend staying connected to internet as some features may not be available offline.

    After connecting the Color Muse 2 to the app, twist the aperture open. Place the device on a surface and press the top button OR select “scan” in the app. The button will flash WHITE to indicate scanning. Once complete the closest paint match will populate within the app.

    The Color Muse 2 will automatically calibrate when connected via Bluetooth. To ensure calibration is successful, twist the aperture closed. You can re-calibrate manually at any time by going to the “Menu” and selecting “Manage Device”.

    If you do not receive any close matches, it would appear there is not a good color match within your selected filters. We would suggest expanding your filters to include more product results. If there are still no color matches, the color you're attempting to match may not be close to any colors in our database.

    Battery, Charging, and LED Indicators

    If the device does not illuminate green once plugged in, ensure the Micro-USB cable, included with your packaging, is placed in the device correctly. If you continue to experience charging issues, we recommend trying a different charging block and wall outlet. Keep the device plugged in for 60 minutes before trying to reconnect to the app. If you continue to have trouble, please contact support or call +1.888.568.8588.

    When you initially plug in the device, the Color Muse 2 will pulse GREEN while charging. Once charging is complete, the device will turn off. To check the battery is fully charged, unplug the Color Muse 2 and connect the device to the app. To view the battery under “Manage Device” in the “Menu” section.

    As the device charges, the top light will illuminate green. The green light will glow brighter as it charges. Once fully charged the light will turn off.

    A fully charged device allows about 250 scans. Factors like “awake” time can change this.

    In the Color Muse app, go to the “Menu” and select “Manage Device”. It will show the battery level as a percentage. A full charge is 100%.

    The wake button is also a great indicator of battery level. A fully charged unit will flash GREEN. A low battery will flash RED.

    To fully charge the device, plug the Color Muse 2 into any Micro-USB cable (one is provided within the Color Muse 2 package) for 60 minutes. For best results, plug the device into a wall outlet. The device will illuminate GREEN when plugged in. To conserve power, the lights will turn off once the device reaches full charge. You can also check the battery level in-app under “Menu” and select “Manage Device”. The battery is fully charged when the battery percentage shows 100%.

    Color Muse App

    Once you are in the app, create an account or log in if you previously had an account with us. After reading the onboarding instructions you will see the main “Color Match” screen. From here you will see “connect device”.

    You can also connect the Color Muse 2 device by going to “Menu” and selecting “Manage Device”. From there you will see “connect device”.

    Digital color is only a representation of a physical sample. Current technology in smart phone screens is unable to perfectly represent a physical color. The color scanned and the represented product results are based on our scanning algorithm, even though visual representation on the screen may appear different. Your smart device will not be able to provide an accurate representation of the product or surface you scanned.

    Many factors can cause the paint to look different than the representation on your smart device. Since each phone screen is different and the lighting conditions in each room can vary, there is no way to show exactly how the color will look once applied.

    If the app crashes on launch, please delete and re-download the app. If you continue to have trouble contact the customer service team at: support@variableinc.com or +1.888.568.8588

    Any Apple smart device running iOS 11, or newer, is compatible.

    Any Android smart device running Lollipop (5.0), or a newer, is compatible.

    Ensure internet connectivity and a minimum of Bluetooth 4.0 (4.1 will provide enhanced speeds)

    About Color Muse 2

    The Color Muse 2 is a color and sheen matching device that provides accurate, on-the-go paint and color matching. Scan the color of any flat surface, match the color to the closest paint colors and products, and create folders to share. Color Muse 2 takes the frustration out of finding that perfect color by ensuring you find the closest available match.

    Color Muse is a color and sheen matching device that provides accurate, on-the-go paint color matching. Scan the color of any flat surface, match the color to the closest paint colors and products, and create folders to share. The Color Muse 2 takes the frustration out of finding that perfect color by ensuring you find the closest available match. The Color Muse device is a color matching device designed to locate the best matching paints and products. The Color Muse 2 is Variable's newest portable color matching device. Unlike the previous version, Color Muse 2 will find the closest paint color match AND sheen level.

    Phone cameras vary in quality between each manufacturer and cannot account for shadows, sunlight, and other external factors. Furthermore, cameras capture colors with Red, Green, and Blue detectors, but the human eye sees color differently than the camera. Color Muse 2 has a controlled light source to combat these external issues through our patented technology.

    Please click here to review our Agreement.

    Variable will accept a return within 30 days of a receipt of purchase. The receipt must be provided for returns.

    Each Color Muse 2 comes with a 1-year warranty against manufacturer defects. To determine manufacturer defects, the device may need to be returned to our facility for testing.

    Illuminants refer to the type of light used to calculate the best match during a scan. Each illuminant stands for the following: D50 (Sunrise or Sunset), D65 (Noon Daylight), F2 (Fluorescent Office Light), F7 (Fluorescent Daylight), A (Incandescent Light). You should select the illuminant closest to the light the surface you are painting will be in. The app has defaulted to D50, the most common illuminant used.

    96%+ match accuracy

    Short-Term Repeatability is less than <0.05 ∆E00

    Inter-instrument Agreement AVG. <0.2 ∆E00, Max <0.75 ∆E00

    8 mm diameter area for scanning

    45/0 measuring optics

    2-degree standard observer

    White calibration point

    Sheen detector

    Full-spectrum white LEDs

    Patented color algorithms

    CIE Lab, LCH, sRGB, Hex, and more.

    Any Apple smart device running iOS 11, or newer, is compatible.

    Any Android smart device running Lollipop (5.0), or a newer, is compatible.

    Ensure internet connectivity and a minimum of Bluetooth 4.0 (4.1 will provide enhanced speeds)

    Weight- 56g 46.25mm tall

    46.75mm diameter

    Measurement size: 8mm

    Bluetooth 4.1 and USB

    Sheen and Finish

    Sheen effects how a color is perceived. It can make the object appear lighter despite using the same base color. Previously, color measurement devices were unable to determine the sheen level for an accurate match. Now the Color Muse 2 will provide the correct paint color and sheen for purchasing.

    Gloss and Sheen are measured by the amount of light reflected off a surface independent of its color. Each one is measured at a different angle. This means the beam of light bouncing off the surface and back to the receptor is different between Gloss and Sheen. Paint products can have either gloss or sheen value (some even have both). Do not worry, the Color Muse 2 will confirm the best gloss or sheen for your match. Want to learn more about Gloss and Sheen differentiation? Read more.

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