Problematic Materials

Since the laser rangefinder works by reading its own reflected light, any material that does not reflect light back to its source is bound to be problematic. Some problematic materials are obvious: the metal legs on desks and chairs that are painted glossy black and shiny metal items that reflect light away, while ordinary walls reflect very well. Several surprising materials exist (black velvet reflects quite brightly back to the source). Plants, despite their green coloring, reflect IR light quite well.