Method of analyzing the visual properties of a paint film comprising effect pigments illuminated by a light source, characterized in that a first polarizing filter is located between the light source and the paint film and a second polarizing filter is located between the paint film and an imaging detector, and in that the polarization axis of at least one of the polarizers is moved between an orientation substantially at right angles to the orientation of the polarization axis of the other polarizer and an orientation in which the angle between the two polarization axes is smaller.