Surface Optics Corporation

10/07/2026

Surface Optics Corporation was founded in San Diego in 1977, when the Padres were just nine seasons into their history. Nearly 50 years later, we're both still proud to call San Diego home.

In August, the SOC team and our families gathered on a rooftop terrace at Petco Park for our annual summer party. Tonight, the Padres return to that same ballpark, trailing the Brewers 2–1 in the series and needing a Game 4 win to keep their season alive.

We'll be cheering them on. Go Padres!

06/10/2025

Spectrally selective physical v***r deposition (PVD) coatings, in the form of flake pigments, offer a versatile solution for complex geometries and large surfaces where traditional deposition methods are impractical. An alternative is to turn the PVD film into flake pigment for paint, which can be applied using conventional spray equipment.

📄 Read more about how Surface Optics manufactures multilayer flake pigment for spectrally tailored paints in our latest Application Note: https://surfaceoptics.com/spectrally-tailored-pvd-coatings-flake-pigments/

Read our application note on spectrally tailored physical v***r deposition flake pigments for precise optical control for complex surfaces.

06/03/2025

Small drones are an increasing threat to maritime operations—affordable, easy to deploy, and often undetectable or misclassified by traditional radar. At Coastal Trident 2025, Surface Optics will field test SUADS, our Spectral Imaging UAV Detection Sensor built on the LightShift™ multispectral platform.

We’re actively seeking government sponsors and prime contractors to support transition to operational deployment by FY2026.

🔗 Learn more about SUADS here:

The Spectral Imaging UAV Detection Sensor, based on LightShift multispectral imaging, will be demonstrated at Coastal Trident 2025.

05/20/2025

Researchers at Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine are tackling the diagnostic challenges of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) by combining microscopic hyperspectral imaging with machine learning. Using the SOC710-E hyperspectral camera mounted on a Nikon E100 microscope, they captured detailed spectral data from tissue samples, identifying subtle chemical differences between healthy and cancerous cells.

🔗 Learn more about this important work in our latest blog post:

Researchers at Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine use hyperspectral microscopy to improve early detection of oral cancer.

04/29/2025

New research from Hunan Agricultural University shows how hyperspectral imaging—using Surface Optics’ SOC710 hyperspectral imaging system—can non-destructively assess rapeseed pod maturity and water content to optimize harvest timing and reduce crop loss.

Explores hyperspectral imaging to non-destructively assess rapeseed water content and maturity to optimize harvest timing and reduce yield losses.

03/28/2025

We get to work on some pretty incredible projects—from cutting-edge research to space missions. One we’re especially proud of? We had the privilege of providing optical properties measurements in support of NASA’s Europa Clipper mission. Launched in October 2024, Europa Clipper is now racing through space on its unprecedented journey to explore Europa, one of Jupiter’s most intriguing moons. Earlier this month, it used Mars’ gravity for a slingshot maneuver to gain speed toward its destination.

Read more about Europa Clipper and our optical properties measurements services here: https://surfaceoptics.com/europa-clipper-optical-measurements/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

03/20/2025

We are thrilled to announce a significant milestone: the sale of our 600th 410 Series Portable Reflectometer! This achievement underscores the trust and confidence our clients place in our technology.

Since its launch, the 410 Series Reflectometer has become the preferred solution for industries requiring precise reflectance measurements. Its portability, reliability, and accuracy have made it indispensable in laboratories, manufacturing plants, and field operations worldwide.

As we celebrate this milestone, we extend our deepest gratitude to each of our customers for choosing Surface Optics Corporation. Your trust drives our commitment to excellence, and we look forward to continuing to provide you with the best in optical measurement technology.

Read more on our blog: https://surfaceoptics.com/celebrating-600-units-sold-410-reflectometer/

02/28/2025

Our newest blog post showcases the excellent work of researchers at Wuhan University, advancing paleoclimate research methods through hyperspectral imaging microscopy. The research team used the SOC710-VP hyperspectral camera to great effect, taking advantage of the system's internal scanning design to create a hyperspectral microscope system capable of capturing entire tree ring samples.

Hyperspectral imaging microscopy compared to conventional methods using tree rings to reconstruct historical climate patterns.

02/20/2025

Need precise solar reflectance measurements for cool roofing and paving materials? Our blog post explores how the 410-Solar Reflectometer compares to a benchtop spectrophotometer in measuring the reflectance of various roofing materials. See how portable reflectometers provide accurate, reliable data—anytime, anywhere!

Evaluates 410-Solar portable solar reflectometer measurements of cool roofing materials against traditional spectrophotometer.

02/14/2025

Solar absorptance and thermal emittance are two sides of the coin when it comes to heat management in engineered surfaces. While thermal emittance determines how efficiently a material radiates heat, solar absorptance tells us how much energy it takes in—both critical factors in designing coatings, thermal barriers, and energy-efficient materials across industries, from building materials to electronics cooling. Our latest blog post breaks down how to measure solar absorptance accurately using reflectometers like the 410-Solar, ensuring precision in material performance and compliance with industry standards.

Learn how solar absorptance is measured, the instrumentation used, best practices, and applications.