Automatic cross-correlation specimen monitoring apparatus and method for identifying spectral reflectance characteristics of a specimen relative to a standard comprising: sensing reflectance values of the specimen at each of two or more overlapping bandwidths covering the spectrum, generating electrical output signals indicative of the reflectance values, modifying the signals with standard reference values one for each of the bandwidths, relating the modified and unmodified signals to generate a cross-correlation coefficient between the specimen reflectance values and the standard reference values, and comparing the cross-correlation coefficient with a preset value representative of a minimum deviation from the standard to quantitatively determine the similarity in spectral reflectance between the specimen and the standard.
MACHINE COLOR RECOGNITION