{"id":6527,"date":"2020-02-21T02:06:02","date_gmt":"2020-02-21T07:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sensing.konicaminolta.us\/us?post_type=industries&p=6527"},"modified":"2026-04-10T12:53:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T16:53:55","slug":"textile-apparel-color-control","status":"publish","type":"industries","link":"https:\/\/sensing.konicaminolta.us\/us\/industries\/textile-apparel-color-control\/","title":{"rendered":"Textile and Apparel"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_single_image media=”6528″ media_width_percent=”100″ alignment=”center”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ expand_height=”yes” back_color=”color-f9f9f9″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1582271544873{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}” el_class=”sidebar-industries”][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=”sidebar-industries”][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”2″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”3\/4″ css=”.vc_custom_1582263329053{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ css=”.vc_custom_1582261861279{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”2″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ css=”.vc_custom_1582261891517{padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h1″ text_size=”h3″ separator_color=”yes” separator=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”156659″]Textile Color Measurement[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text el_class=”text-block” uncode_shortcode_id=”125772″]From dye to material, Konica Minolta Sensing Americas offers high performance instruments that meet quality standards for the textiles and apparel industry. These solutions allow users to accurately control, evaluate, formulate and reproduce, the color and appearance of various samples, including dyes, fabrics, yarns, and fibers, in a more streamlined process internally and throughout the supply chain. As a result, consistency can be maintained and color quality standards can be met with less waste, time, and effort.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Color Measurement In Textiles?<\/h3>\n

Color measurement in textiles is the quantitative evaluation of a fabric\u2019s color to ensure accuracy, consistency, and alignment with design or production standards. Using spectrophotometers like Konica Minolta\u2019s CM\u201126dG<\/a> (high-precision hand-held instrument ) and CM\u201136dG<\/a> (laboratory-grade instrument), manufacturers can objectively capture both color and gloss\u2014critical for materials whose appearance changes with texture and finish. These instruments measure reflected light across the visible spectrum and translate it into standardized color spaces (such as CIE L*a*b*) so teams can digitally communicate color globally without subjective visual variation. In textile workflows, this ensures reliable color matching between batches, suppliers, and product lines, reducing rework and improving quality and sustainability. Ultimately, color measurement enables predictable, repeatable color reproduction from initial design through final production. If the fabric\/material has optical brighteners, the UV control on each instrument should be used and calibrated<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Calibrate Textile Color Measurement Instruments?<\/h3>\n

There are two types of calibration: Daily (user) and Annually (service engineer)<\/p>\n

Daily Calibration<\/strong><\/p>\n

Calibrating textile color measurement instruments ensures that every reading is accurate, repeatable, and aligned with global color standards. For Konica Minolta\u2019s CM\u201126dG<\/a> and CM\u201136dG<\/a>, calibration is a quick but essential routine performed at the start of each measurement session\u2014or whenever environmental conditions change (+\/- 5 C)<\/p>\n

How to Calibrate Textile Color Measurement Instruments (CM\u201126dG<\/a> & CM\u201136dG<\/a>):<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Warm\u2011Up Period: Allow the instrument to reach thermal stability (typically a few minutes) to ensure the light source and sensors stabilize.<\/li>\n
  2. White Calibration: Place the supplied certified white calibration tile on the measurement port and initiate the white\u2011calibration routine; this sets the instrument\u2019s baseline reflectance.<\/li>\n
  3. Black Calibration: For instruments equipped with a black trap (both the CM\u201126dG<\/a> and CM\u201136dG<\/a>), perform a black calibration by measuring the light\u2011absorbing black cavity to establish the zero\u2011reflectance point.<\/li>\n
  4. Gloss Calibration (for \u201cdG\u201d models): Because both instruments measure color + 60\u00b0 gloss, use the supplied gloss\u2011calibration standard to ensure gloss readings remain accurate\u2014critical for textiles with sheen, coatings, or finish variations.<\/li>\n
  5. Calibration intervals: Instruments should be calibrated prior to each shift (or every 8 hours) and\/or if there is a temperature shift of +\/- 5 C.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    When performed routinely, these calibration steps guarantee that your textile color measurements remain consistent across batches, operators, and global production locations.<\/p>\n

    Annual Calibration<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Annual service calibration is a comprehensive, factory\u2011level recalibration performed to ensure the CM\u201126dG<\/a> and CM\u201136dG<\/a> continue to measure color and gloss with high accuracy. Over time, internal components such as light sources, sensors, illumination optics, and gloss detectors can drift due to normal aging or environmental exposure, making annual service essential for maintaining traceability to international standards. During the service, Konica Minolta technicians perform a full diagnostic check, replace or adjust internal components as needed, clean and realign the optical system, and recalibrate the instrument against certified reference standards that are far more precise than the daily user calibration tiles. The process concludes with a new calibration certificate, confirming the instrument meets factory specifications and remains compliant for quality system audits. Regular annual service calibration ensures long\u2011term measurement stability, minimizes color\u2011related production errors, and extends the operational life of the instrument.<\/p>\n

    For more information about annual calibration please\u00a0click here.<\/a><\/p>\n

    What are the Industry Standards for Textile Color Accuracy?<\/h3>\n

    Textile color standards ensure that color is measured consistently and objectively across global supply chains. The foundation of this accuracy is the CIE colorimetric system, which provides standardized color spaces, such as CIE L*a*b*, that enable precise, repeatable communication of color in textiles. In addition, ASTM E1347 offers a widely recognized method for performing tristimulus colorimetry, defining requirements for instruments, illuminants, sample preparation, and measurement geometry to ensure accurate and repeatable color evaluations across materials including textiles. Internationally, the ISO 105 series provides a comprehensive set of textile\u2011specific colorfastness standards, covering lightfastness, washing, perspiration, crocking, and staining evaluations used throughout dyeing and finishing operations. Complementing ISO, AATCC standards, with many application Test Methods (TM) and Evaluation Procedures (EP) form a core framework in North America for assessing color durability and performance in textiles. Together, these standards ensure that textile manufacturers, brands, and laboratories can reliably evaluate, match, and control color from raw materials to finished goods.[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”925057″]<\/p>\n

    Color Measurement Solutions for Textiles<\/h3>\n

    The following products are our most recommended for Textile Color Measurement, our specialist team<\/a> can help to advise you on which product is best suited for your needs:[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”319306″]

    \"CM-26d<\/a>\n

    CM-26d Spectrophotometer<\/a><\/h4><\/div><\/div>\n
    \"CM-36dG\"<\/a>\n

    Spectrophotometer CM-36dG<\/a><\/h4><\/div><\/div>\n
    \"Specim<\/a>\n

    Specim FX10<\/a><\/h4><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t