The concept of contrast gloss and its relation to visually perceived gloss was examined for textured polymeric specimens. The specimens were injection-molded plaques manufactured in three different polymers (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, polypropylene, and a blend of polycarbonate and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer). A contrast gloss factor was determined from the reflectance data obtained with a conventional multiangle spectrophotometer. To evaluate the visual impression of gloss of the specimens a psychometric study was performed. The contrast gloss factor corresponded well with the visual assessment of the gloss and it was able to discern the visual differences between several specimens not significantly discriminated by their gloss values. These latter gloss values were obtained with a conventional glossmeter measuring specular gloss. In correspondence with the visual assessments and practical experience, the relation between the contrast gloss factor and the specular glossmeter measurements was found to depend on the type of polymer used. When evaluating gloss of specimens varying in color, the contrast gloss factor corresponded well with the visual assessments. This was in contrast to the specular glossmeter measurements which ranked the specimens essentially in the opposite order. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 50:2114-2121, 2010. (C) 2010 Society of Plastics Engineers