How to Visually Evaluate Textiles

Evaluating textile color palettes, fabric rolls, multiple garments side-by-side, and cut-and-sew pieces under controlled lighting can ensure color integrity and harmony before garment assembly and shipment. X-Rite luminaires can be hung in custom configurations over a viewing table to achieve the desired light level and area of view.

Challenge

Solution

SpectraLight QC or Judge LED luminaries can be hung on chains over a viewing table angled at 45-degrees to evaluate color under 7 light sources. SpectraLight QC luminaires offer best-in-class dimmable filtered-tungsten halogen daylight while the Judge LED luminaires offer premium eco-friendly LED technology with instant warm-up and less maintenance than fluorescent technology. The luminaires can be arranged in custom daisy-chain configurations in banks as small as 1x2 and as long and wide as needed to achieve the desired light level and area of view.

During design, R&D and final QC, evaluators can walk around the textile products to evaluate color from every angle and ensure color integrity and harmony under multiple lighting conditions, including optical brighteners under UV. Luminaires also make it easy for several workers to evaluate at the same time for improved efficiency and collaboration during visual evaluation.

Results

How It Works

  1. Work with an X-Rite color scientist to determine the ideal size, shape, and bulb configuration. X-Rite luminaires can be hung in banks as small as 1x2 and as large as your items require.
  2. Create standard operating procedures to document settings for every program and create custom profiles based on requirements for light source, illumination, and other parameters to ensure consistency between evaluators.
  3. If desired, require part suppliers to use SpectraLight QC or Judge LED light booths to confirm dyed fabrics and components are visually acceptable based on standard operating procedures before they are shipped for assembly.
  4. Everyone perceives color differently, so it is important to test the vision acuity of quality controllers and approvers to understand how they perceive color. The Farnsworth-Munsell Hue Test can be used to fully analyze color vision for in-house and field staff involved with color-critical operations.
 

Featured Products

SpectraLight QC

SpectraLight QC

With 7 light sources including dimmable filtered-tungsten halogen daylight (class A) and optional LED, this top-of-the line controlled lighting solution provides the most accurate daylight simulation available for optimum visual assessment.

 

Judge LED

Judge LED

Judge LED Light Booth is an eco-friendly, LED color evaluation tool that offers instant warm-up and consistent lighting to ensure accurate evaluations across the supply chain.

 

Harmony Room

Harmony Room

A custom fit-and-finish room for visual evaluation of large assembled items under controlled lighting.

 

fm100 hue test

Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test

A global standard that has been used by governments and industry for more than 60 years, the FM 100 Hue Test evaluates and ranks color acuity for visual color evaluators in any industry.

 

Conclusion

Hanging SpectraLight QC or Judge LED Luminaires enable checkpoints for visual approvals throughout the supply chain and ensure color harmony at final assembly. When used as a holistic solution, luminaires and light booths reduce human error, standardize conditions for visual assessment, and saves time and money.