Basic Textiles V
Color and Color Properties
Dyes/pigments: the materials imparting the color to the textiles. Dyes have a natural affinity for textile
fibers (molecular composition0. Pigments have no affinity.
What is color?
Color is a property of objects observed by human beings psychophysical phenomenon.
Color is produced from a band of electromagnetic radiation = visible light. All colors we see are due
to visible light. If no light is present, everything is black no color.
1. Spectral colors produced by passing light through a prism
red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet
2. Achromatic colors black, grey, whites
Electromagnetic radiation
Different types of radiation are characterized by different
wavelength and frequency values and have different properties.
- Cosmic/gamma rays lethal to living beings
- X-rays less lethal, used in medical and dental
procedures
- Ultraviolet radiation causes sunburn
- Infrared radiation heating (microwaves)
- Radio frequencies AM/FM radio
Wavelength: distance from top wave to top of next wave
(nanometers).
Visible light: 380-780 nanometers. Humans can only see a very
small part. Only visible light range.
Hues of Monochromatic light
when standard light sources (white light) passes through a prism, it
bends so colors are seen = color spectrum. These are the hues
of monochromatic light.
Color normal can see 22-23 million different colors.
All colors are mixtures of monochromatic light of varying
wavelengths and intensity.
Interaction of light with matter
Without the presence of visible light, all surroundings and objects appear dark or black. Light can be:
1. Reflected Not all light is reflected with a typical fabric. A mirror comes closest to
reflecting all light present. Mirror image: light reflecting capability.
, Basic Textiles V
2. Absorption If fabric absorbs all light without reflection, it would be dark and not visible.
For textile some light is reflected, some is absorbed.
3. Transmitted Fabric can filter light (shear fabrics). To evaluate a true color, transmission
should be eliminated. Fold the fabric(infinite thickness) to eliminate all
transmitted light, so only absorption of light can occur.
Fabric color
Shen visible light strikes a green fabric, all wavelengths of light except those that are green are
absorbed. The green wavelengths are reflected and observed the fabric is green.
The color of almost any textile product is three dimensional. Final shade observed: texture, geometry,
light reflectance characteristics, surface or fiber smoothness, pile depth.
Two-dimensional color properties: flat painted or coated surfaces.
Self shade: when a textile is colored using only one dye. Modern textiles are dyed with 3+ dyes
analyzing absorption and reflection is complex.
Object color
Necessary for the observation of color:
- Light source
- Observer
- Object which can exhibit color
There are many different light sources, segregated by
the intensity of wavelength. The color of a fabric is
difficult to determine with these different light sources.
Observing color can only be done by humans. Color can
also be measured by computers. Many factors can
influence how well a person can see a color.
For textiles, geometry, texture, fiber size, surface
smoothness and general light reflectance is important for its color. Ex: corduroy.
Surroundings of object also have influence on the color observed. Humans can see different colors at
a time, but a color instrument can only measure one at a time.
Color tests
Farnsworth Munsell 100-Hue Test
This test is designed to measure the ability of a person to discriminate between small color diffeences
in a progression from one hue to another. Important for when
working in shade matching and c olor evaluation.
4 boxes, 4 different hue progression ranges. Tested under
synthetic daylight. Person needs to arrange colors in correct order
of hue.
NOT for color blindness test!
Pseudoisochromatic/Ishihara/Plate test
Used for determining color blindness/color vision deficiency.
Color and Color Properties
Dyes/pigments: the materials imparting the color to the textiles. Dyes have a natural affinity for textile
fibers (molecular composition0. Pigments have no affinity.
What is color?
Color is a property of objects observed by human beings psychophysical phenomenon.
Color is produced from a band of electromagnetic radiation = visible light. All colors we see are due
to visible light. If no light is present, everything is black no color.
1. Spectral colors produced by passing light through a prism
red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet
2. Achromatic colors black, grey, whites
Electromagnetic radiation
Different types of radiation are characterized by different
wavelength and frequency values and have different properties.
- Cosmic/gamma rays lethal to living beings
- X-rays less lethal, used in medical and dental
procedures
- Ultraviolet radiation causes sunburn
- Infrared radiation heating (microwaves)
- Radio frequencies AM/FM radio
Wavelength: distance from top wave to top of next wave
(nanometers).
Visible light: 380-780 nanometers. Humans can only see a very
small part. Only visible light range.
Hues of Monochromatic light
when standard light sources (white light) passes through a prism, it
bends so colors are seen = color spectrum. These are the hues
of monochromatic light.
Color normal can see 22-23 million different colors.
All colors are mixtures of monochromatic light of varying
wavelengths and intensity.
Interaction of light with matter
Without the presence of visible light, all surroundings and objects appear dark or black. Light can be:
1. Reflected Not all light is reflected with a typical fabric. A mirror comes closest to
reflecting all light present. Mirror image: light reflecting capability.
, Basic Textiles V
2. Absorption If fabric absorbs all light without reflection, it would be dark and not visible.
For textile some light is reflected, some is absorbed.
3. Transmitted Fabric can filter light (shear fabrics). To evaluate a true color, transmission
should be eliminated. Fold the fabric(infinite thickness) to eliminate all
transmitted light, so only absorption of light can occur.
Fabric color
Shen visible light strikes a green fabric, all wavelengths of light except those that are green are
absorbed. The green wavelengths are reflected and observed the fabric is green.
The color of almost any textile product is three dimensional. Final shade observed: texture, geometry,
light reflectance characteristics, surface or fiber smoothness, pile depth.
Two-dimensional color properties: flat painted or coated surfaces.
Self shade: when a textile is colored using only one dye. Modern textiles are dyed with 3+ dyes
analyzing absorption and reflection is complex.
Object color
Necessary for the observation of color:
- Light source
- Observer
- Object which can exhibit color
There are many different light sources, segregated by
the intensity of wavelength. The color of a fabric is
difficult to determine with these different light sources.
Observing color can only be done by humans. Color can
also be measured by computers. Many factors can
influence how well a person can see a color.
For textiles, geometry, texture, fiber size, surface
smoothness and general light reflectance is important for its color. Ex: corduroy.
Surroundings of object also have influence on the color observed. Humans can see different colors at
a time, but a color instrument can only measure one at a time.
Color tests
Farnsworth Munsell 100-Hue Test
This test is designed to measure the ability of a person to discriminate between small color diffeences
in a progression from one hue to another. Important for when
working in shade matching and c olor evaluation.
4 boxes, 4 different hue progression ranges. Tested under
synthetic daylight. Person needs to arrange colors in correct order
of hue.
NOT for color blindness test!
Pseudoisochromatic/Ishihara/Plate test
Used for determining color blindness/color vision deficiency.
