Abstract: A handheld portable spectrophotometer is provided including keys for input of instructions by a user, an illuminator for illuminating a sample, and a spectral analyzer for separating light reflected from the sample into spectral components to produce a signal corresponding to the level of each spectral component. A processor is provided for executing the user instructions and for analyzing the signal. The results of the signal analysis are presented on a display. A power source is provided for providing power for operation of the handheld portable spectrophotometer.