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If you’ve ever wanted Apple to make matte black MacBooks, a new patent shows the company is at least considering the idea.
Apple begins by explaining the probable reason why it hasn’t done it yet: it’s really hard to get a true black rather than a dark gray …
Here’s what the company says in the context of the patent:
Housings for portable electronic devices can include an anodized layer which can be dyed in different colors to enhance their cosmetic appeal to consumers. However, some colors are much more difficult to achieve than others.
In particular, attempts by manufacturers of consumer electronics to achieve true black color have failed. Indeed, the best attempts only reached a dark gray color. One challenge in achieving a true black color is that anodized metal can have a relatively high silk finish, which is able to specularly reflect large amounts of visible light. […]
Mere deposition of dye particles in the pores of an anodized layer is insufficient to impart true black color. Indeed, the anodized layer trays at an L * value in the low 20s. Part of the challenge in achieving a true black color is that the surface of these cases usually has a glossy finish, which helps in specular reflection of a large amount of visible light.
There are two secrets to doing this, says the patent.
The etched anodized surface of enclosures having light trapping characteristics (also referred to as light absorption characteristics) is able to absorb generally almost all visible light incident thereon. In addition, any visible light not absorbed by the light trapping elements is diffusely reflected by the light trapping functions. As a result, the anodized etched piece is characterized as having a low gloss matte finish. The matte, low-gloss finish combined with black colored particles infused into the pores are able to mask the surface geometries of the outer surface.
As with all Apple patents, it’s unclear if the idea will ever get to market, but there’s no doubt that matte black MacBooks would be popular.
In the meantime, ColorWare offers a matte black skin for the MacBook, but it suffers from the problem that Apple describes: it looks more like gray than a true deep black.
Obviously via Apple
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