Characterizing Fuzz on Fabrics Using Image Analysis

A hardware device and software based on image analysis techniques are developed to detect and describe fuzz on fabric surfaces. Thin optical slices near the surface of fabrics are imaged with a microscope objective lens and electronic camera. Sharply focused fuzz fibers are detected within each image and described in terms of fuzz density, fuzz height, and fabric-fuzz separation. The hardware device and software techniques are evaluated by visualizing fuzz detection in individual images and by assessing the reasonableness of measured fuzz parameters for fabrics with intuitively known fuzz attributes. The instru ment's usefulness is explored by assessing the influence of the yarn interlacing pattern, mechanical abrasion, and a fuzz-reducing finish on fuzz.