Gloss describes the quality of a surface to reflect light directionally. If light falls on a paper at an angle of 75 degrees, then a very matt uncoated paper will not reflect the light in a directional way, but very diffusely, whereas a high-gloss paper will reflect much more light in the opposite 75 degree angle in a directional way than it will reflect light diffusely. The more reflective the surface, the greater the gloss.
To measure colour and gloss, X-Rite and other companies offer numerous glossmeters, which often emit light at different angles and can then measure the direction. A very good introduction to the subject in English is a series of videos from the American company Technodyne, which manufactures glossmeters for the paper industry.
Youtube Videos: Gloss measurement explained
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