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What is Fabric Color Approval Method?

Updated: Feb 9, 2021

In the method of development , the customer and supplier got to define the fabric (fabric) color for the merchandise that must be produced. the material color approval and shade matching procedure are explained during this post. There are several phases in completing this procedure like,



  • Define Color Standards

  • Lab dip process

  • Color matching submission

Determine Color Standards

The first step is to define the colour standards for the material dyeing, which should be used as a frame for the longer term production. this suggests that the customer and supplier will set acceptable limits for the colour variations. The customer must provide a reference sample to the supplier of the colour requested and keep a sample swatch for his or her future reference.


The piece provided to supplier must be as big as possible so it'll be easier for the supplier to hit the proper color. the colour matching are going to be different if the composition or weight of the provided fabric is different. Please notice that just in case of employing a Pantone Color Swatch, the printed colors on the paper will look different than on a cloth texture.

2. Lab Dip Process


 Lab Dip Process
Lab Dip Process



After defining the material color, subsequent step is making a Lab Dip sample. Lab dips are wiped out the laboratory environment with purpose to supply a visible aid on how a color will look when it's dyed. the particular production sample will vary from the lab dip that's provided. Remember that the lab dip is produced during a beaker and isn't an actual production run. it's impossible to lab dip enough fabric for a sample cap or garment. When the products are dyed during a real production run, the conditions are dramatically different from the laboratory. Production of the material won't begin unless a lab dip is approved or the customer waives the lab dip processes. Once a lab dip is approved the dyeing will start only consistent with the approved lab dip. Lab Dip machine is presented.


Lab Dip Machine
Lab Dip Machine

The machine are often used for dyeing of cloth , yarn and loose stock samples. Rocking bars aside from up to down motion rotate at 70 RPM and their length are often adjusted between 25mm to 50mm. the amount of beakers is 12 with up to 95C possible dyeing temperature.

3. Matching Color

The supplier should make an attempt to urge the special dye lot as on the brink of the colour standard/lab dip as possible. But, no two dye lots are the precise same color. However, a billboard match to customer’s color are going to be achieved on a special dye lot. a billboard match are going to be an identical tone which will be slightly darker or lighter than the colour standard. a cloth color matching cabinet machine presented on the Fig. 2 are often used for detection of color difference between the assembly lot sample and therefore the standard one. The usage of this machine is for the visual assessment of color under standardized and controlled environment. It allows an individual to guage color samples under different light sources.


Light box, color cabinet
Light box, color cabinet

Image credit ..Tilo

The machine provides -


Artificial Daylight Fluorescent Lamps (D-65), Tungsten Filament Lamps, Tri Phosphor Fluorescent Lamps (TL84), Ultra violet Black Lamp (UVB), Cool White lamp (CWF), Hour Meter.


When the supplier starts the lot dyeing, he must provide tons sample to the customer for approval. the shape presented in Fig.3 are often wont to compare the first watch sample with lab dip samples and choose the one that's acceptable for the longer term production.


Lab dip approval form
Lab dip approval form

There are many variables which will influence during a variation of the colour or appearance which make it impossible to urge a particular match. a number of these variables include:

  • The color swatch was produced from a special mill with different processes, equipment and dye stuff.

  • Dye stuffs wont to produce fabric vary in shade from lot to lot.

  • Atmospheric conditions like humidity vary day to day.

  • The natural (greige) goods vary from lot to lot. Some woven goods are very clean and therefore the dyes absorb deeply while others might not take as deep.

  • The cotton from different crops will absorb dyes differently.

During the dying process, all of those variables must be constantly monitored and changes are made to stay the colour as on the brink of the colour standard as possible. Even while making these changes, there'll be a small variance in shade from the reference sample to the lab dip, to the particular production run. of these variances should be within the acceptable tolerance that was arranged beforehand between the customer and supplier.



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