the output of the colorimeter may be shown in graphs or tables, by an analogue or digital meter. the data may be printed on paper, or stored in a computer. the output may be shown as transmittance (a linear scale from 0-100%) or as absorbance (a logarithmic scale from zero to infinity). the useful range of the absorbance scale is from 0-2 but it is desirable to keep within the range 0-1 because, above 1, the results become unreliable due to scattering of light. a transmittance-absorbance conversion table may be seen here.