Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Cotton Structure and Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #287148

Title: An investigation on the intra-sample distribution of cotton color by using image analysis

Author
item Cui, Xiaoliang
item CAI, YIYUN - Louisiana State University
item Rodgers Iii, James
item MARTIN, VICKI - Louisiana State University
item WATSON, MIKE - Cotton, Inc

Submitted to: Textile Research Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/18/2013
Publication Date: 1/22/2014
Citation: Cui, X., Cai, Y., Rodgers III, J.E., Martin, V., Watson, M. 2014. An investigation on the intra-sample distribution of cotton color by using image analysis. Textile Research Journal. 84(2):214-222.

Interpretive Summary: In cotton classing and trade, color is one of the most important properties. Cotton color reflects other cotton physical properties and is associated with the quality of textile products. The most commonly used method for measuring cotton color is to use the colorimeter. This method provides a cotton sample’s overall color grade, but currently it does not provide information about the intra-sample color distribution and variation within a sample. The intra-sample color variation and distribution is important for better evaluating cotton quality and enhancing the rapid test of cotton color. A new approach was developed through an image analysis to study the intra-sample distribution and variation of cotton color. The results show that, for the same cotton, although the variations among the color grades of its different samples (replicates) are very small, there are evident intra-sample color variations and the color of the subareas are distributed covering various grades on the cotton color chart. In other words, cotton with the same overall color grade may have different intra-sample color variations and distributions. Therefore, a description of the intra-sample color variations and distributions obtainable through an image analysis method may enable a more comprehensive evaluation of the cotton color characteristics. The results can be used to enable a more comprehensive evaluation of cotton color properties.

Technical Abstract: The colorimeter principle is widely used to measure cotton color. This method provides the sample’s color grade; but the result does not include information about the color distribution and any variation within the sample. We conducted an investigation that used image analysis method to study the intra-sample distribution and variation of cotton color. High resolution color images of cotton samples were obtained from a color scanner. For each image, the Rd and +b values of the image and its specific subareas were computed to analyze the color distribution. Intra-sample and inter-sample variations of Rd, +b values and color grades were examined and compared to those obtained from HVI system. The results show that, for the same cotton, although the variations among the color grades of its different samples (replicates) are very small, there are evident intra-sample color variations and the color of the subareas are distributed covering various grades on the cotton color chart. In other words, cotton with the same overall color grade may have different intra-sample color variations and distributions. Therefore, a description of the intra-sample color variations and distributions obtainable through an image analysis method may enable a more comprehensive evaluation of the cotton color characteristics.