Computer Color Matching System

Computer Color Matching System

1.0 Introduction

Instrumental or computerized colorant formulation is widely termed as computer color matching.

Computer color matching system was first established in 1963 by ICI dye stuff division for color
matching prediction in their lab only for their customers. But CCMS was commercially introduced by
International Color System (ICS) in 1973. Now CCMS is developing by different CCMS
manufacturing companies.

Computer Color Matching (CCM) is the instrumental color formulation based on recipe calculation
using the spectrophotometric properties of dyestuffs and fibers.

2.0 Different Parts of Computer Color Matching System

Following basic things are considered for CCMS:

1. Spectrophotometer is the main color measurement instrument.
2. Reflectance from a mixture of dyes or pigments applied in a specific way.
3. To judge the closeness of the color matching, optical model of color (CIE Lab/ Hunter Lab/
XYZ Model) is used.
CCMS has different parts by which it runs. Followings are the main parts of CCMS.
1. Computer: Computer is needed for CCMS. In this system special software is installed in the
computer for running the CCMS. Spectrophotometer and printer are joined with the computer.
When spectrophotometer analyzes the color, the results are shown in the monitor and if
needed, results could be printed out by the printer. All the information is sent from the hard
disk of the computer.

2. Spectrophotometer: Spectrophotometer is the main instrument of CCMS. Spectrophotometer

has a sample holder in the middle of the front side. The sample is held there. Then it takes the
reflection of the light and analyzes the depth of the color and shows the results on the computer
monitor. It also makes decision about the fastness properties of the sample.

3. Printer: Printer is joined with the computer for printing the results.

3.0 Functions of CCMS / Information Obtained from CCMS

▪ Prediction of color match: The main function of CCMS is to predict the color of a sample. In
lab dip section, it is necessary to match the shade of the sample. CCMS makes it easy to match
the shade quickly. It also makes easy the work of a textile engineer who is responsible for it.

▪ Color difference calculation: We know that; when a sample is put in sample holder of a
spectrophotometer, it analyzes the color of the sample. It also calculates the color difference of
the sample and dyed sample which is dyed according to the recipe of the CCMS.

▪ Metamerism: CCMS also shows the metamerism of the sample color.

▪ Pass and Fail option: The sample which is dyed according to the recipe of the CCMS is
matched with the buyer’s sample that could be calculated by this system. If the dyed sample
fulfill the requirements, then CCMS gives pass decision and if can’t then it gives fail decision.
So, pass-fail can be decided by CCMS.

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▪ Color fastness rating: Color fastness can be calculated by CCMS. There is different color
fastness rating (1-5/1-8). CCMS analyze the color fastness and gives result.

▪ Shade library: Computer color matching system also stores the recipe of the dyeing for
specific shade. This shade library helps to find out the different documents against that shade.
It is done both for the shade of sample and bulk dyed sample.

▪ Cost comparison: Cost of the produced sample can be compared with others. It also helps to
choose the right dyes for dyeing.

▪ Dyes strength evaluation: It is important to evaluate the strength of the dyes which will be
used for production. All of the dyes have not same strength. Dye strength affects the
concentration of dyes which will be used for dyeing.

▪ Whiteness Indices: Whiteness Indices are also maintained in CCMS.

▪ Reflectance curve: Reflectance curve can be formed for specific shade with CCMS by which
the reflection capability of that shade can be determined.

4.0 Working Procedure of Computer Color Matching Systems (CCMS)

Generally, buyer gives a fabric sample (swatch) or Panton number of a specific shade to the producer.
Producer gives the fabric sample to lab dip development department to match the shade of the fabric.
After getting the sample, they analyze the color of the sample manually. In the other hand they can
take help from the computer color matching system.

At first it needs to fit the sample to the spectrophotometer which analyzes the depth of the shade and it
shows the results of the color depth. At the same time, it needs to determine the color combination by
which the fabric will be dyed. Then it will generate some dyeing recipe which is nearly same.

Here it needs to determine the amount of chemicals which will be used during dyeing. After formation
of dyeing recipe, it needs to dye the sample with stock solution. Then sample is dyed according to the
dyeing procedure. After finishing the sample dyeing, it needs to compare the dyed sample with the
buyer sample. For this reason, dyed sample is entered to the spectrophotometer to compare with the
buyer sample.

Then CCMS gives the pass-fail results. If the dyed sample matches with the buyer sample than CCMS
gives pass results. After that, dyed samples are sent to the customer or buyer. After getting the
approval from the buyer, producer goes for the bulk production.

If the dyed sample does not match with the buyer sample, CCMS analyses the color difference and
correct the recipe. Then another sample dyeing is carried out for matching the shade of the sample.

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4.1 Flow chart of CCMS (Modern dye laboratory procedure)

Fabric swatch
Dyes/chemicals

Color analysis Stock solution

preparation

Dyeing recipe Dyeing solution

formulation Recipe entered
into computer preparation

Recipe Comparison of sample Sample dyeing

correction with swatch

Color
Fail Pass Customer
difference
analysis

Color check

Production

5.0 Advantages of CCMS System

1. Customer get exact shade wanted [with the knowledge of metamerism]

2. Often supplies a choice of 10-20 formulations (depends on self-shade database) that will match
the color.
3. 3-300 times faster at achieving match with the help of a computer than by eye alone.
4. Limited range of stock color is needed.
5. Give extremely accurate recipe calculations in a very short time.
6. If the cost of dyes and chemicals are given in computer as input, it can show the cost of dyeing
for every recipe.
7. It reduces the number of laboratory trials for shade matching.
8. Reduced addition rate and shortest processing time and as addition no. so reduced, fabric
experience gentle treatment.

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6.0 The Beer-Lambert Law

The Beer-Lambert Law relates light absorption in a transparent material to concentration of colorant in
the material and the thick- ness of the material. The Law is usually written in the form

A = εcl (1)

where "c" is the concentration of colorant and "l" is the path length or thickness of the sample. "A" is
the absorbance and is sometimes called the "optical density." ε" is the extinction coefficient and is
sometimes called the "molar extinction coefficient"/when the concentration, c, is expressed in
molarity.
The Law applies to either solid or liquid materials, but it is used most often in textiles for measuring
the color of solutions of dye in water or other solvents.
Absorbance and transmittance are related by the equation

A =log(1/T) (2)

where T is the fraction of incident light that passes through the solution.

The path length (sample thickness), l, is often fixed or predetermined so that it can be treated as a
constant. Figure shows that the amount of light absorbed is directly proportional to the concentration
of colorant in the sample.

The extinction coefficient, &, is the slope of the line and is constant for a particular colorant.
Therefore, the extinction coefficient is a measure of the tinctorial strength of the dye. If the extinction
coefficient of a colorant (dye) is known, the concentration of dye can be determined simply by
measuring the light absorption using a spectrophotometer.
The absorbance of a mixture of dyes is equal to the sum of the absorbance of each of the components
in the mixture at a particular wavelength. In mathematical terms,

Amixture=Adye 1 +Adye 2 +………+Adye x , at λx,. (3)

Combining equations 1 and 3 yields equation 4.

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where the subscripts refer to the individual dyes in the mixture

7.0 Kubelka-Munk Equation

Light scattering and light absorption of visible light determine the color of an opaque object.
Scattering changes the direction of light while absorption converts some of the rays to heat, or to
longer wavelengths in the case of fluorescent materials. Complete mathematical treatments of
absorption and scattering are very complex. However, Kubelka and Munk in 1939 developed a
relatively simple treatment that is the basis for color measurement and computer assisted prediction of
color matches on textile materials. The Kubelka-Munk equation provides for calculation of a ratio,
K/S ("K over S value"), from measured reflectance values as is shown in following equation 1.

K is called the coefficient of absorption and S is called the coefficient of scatter. The ratio K/S is
analogous to absorbance, A, as measured in transparent substrates and used in Beer's Law.

Assuming that the fabric and the dyes contained in the fabric absorb and scatter light independently of
one another, the K/S for a fabric containing a mixture of dyes is

where C is concentration of dye; and the subscripts 1, 2, and F refer to the individual dyes and the
fabric, respectively. Since reflectance measurements include the influence of the substrate, the
mathematical equations include terms, KF and SF for this effect. If scattering of light by the dyes is
small compared to scattering of light by the fabric, equation 6 can be further simplified to

The KX/SF factors in equation 7 are constants for a particular dye at a particular wavelength and are
analogous to the extinction coefficient, E, as used in Beer's Law. Therefore, a series of simultaneous
equations can be used to determine what concentrations of dye are contained in a fabric if the
constants for the particular dyes in the fabric are known and the K/S of the fabric is measured.

When a fabric contains only one dye, equation 7 simplifies to following equation.

As shown in Figure 3-7, a plot of K/S of dyed fabric as a function of concentration of dye yields a
straight line if equation S is valid. The slope of the line is K/S, and the intercept on the ordinate is K/S
for the fabric when it contains no dye.

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Equation 7 is the basic equation for computer-assisted prediction of color matches. Typically, 16
simultaneous equations in the form of equation 7, each representing a different wavelength, are used.
A computer is necessary to do many calculations required to solve the equations.

Figure 3-7: K/S versus concentration