Cooking For Engineers

[opper-electro]

I've joined countless technical forums, because I'm a partner in an electronics related
business. Until today, I never had a reason to google for a cooking forum. You can
imagine my surprise, when "Cooking for Engineers" was near the top of the list!

If I could find these Rubbermaid containers in a store near my business, it would be easy
to see their level of opacity ( transparency). For some reason, the larger size containers
are not stocked locally.

I'm trying to design and build something in my shop and I need 12qt. (or larger) storage
containers.

Here is a side by side comparison of white and semi-clear Rubbermaid containers:
http://pasteboard.co/1xFNqNChb.jpg

Large image of white:
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/images/products/extra_large/105598/662226.jpg

Large image of semi-clear:
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/images/products/extra_large/105735/658136.jpg

We all buy stuff on the web based on images. Unless you've seen the item in a store
before ordering, it may or may not look like the image on your computer monitor.

The food inside the white Rubbermaid container is clearly visible. In fact, the white
container looks like a "natural" color HDPE 5-gallon bucket which is translucent.

http://pasteboard.co/XHuWnc7.jpg

Almost all graphics apps (like Abobe Photoshop) allow you to set the level of transparency.
0% is completely clear or invisible. 100% is fully opaque.

I'm only guessing, but the white container is about 40-to-60% opacity. If you own these
containers please let me know if I'm correct. This would be fine for my project. The semi-
clear about 20-to-40%. Too much focused light. I need more diffusion.

Since I cannot examine these containers in a local store, I need your best guess about the
opacity of the white and semi-clear containers.

Thanks guys.

[Dilbert]

I agree completely that computer screens and reality are quite often not the same.

that said, photoshopping the transparency of an opaque container will not reveal the macaroni behind it. except of course where the image has been constructed of layers to begin with - an unlikely event.

the full container may appear more opaque simply because there is no light penetrating down the inside - as would happen with a half full container.

and that said, looking at the earred handles,,,, definite differences there. raising the possibility that depending on which Chinese vendor made that last delivery, there may be manufacturing differences in the same item.