Color samples with a diverse variety of shapes require more labor and costs, high-quality CCM systems and a well-trained eye for determination

JIAM 2002, held in May in Osaka, emphasized the necessity of SCM, where an under-stocked garment product with a desired color can be manufactured and supplied to the consumer within three days from the time of color determination at the retailer's.
The whole procedure, from color matching to dyeing, cutting and sewing, needs to be completed within three days.
Dyeing factories will require a rational way of color measuring.
SCOTDIC eliminates cumbersome work in the following manner.

For example...

1) Color measuring is difficult with certain varieties of color samples

Sumitomo Chemical's CCM for dyeing

CCM (Computer Color Matching) is easy with the use of the SCOTDIC color charts shown in the picture, however, with certain varieties of color samples, such as shown in the pictures, color measuring is difficult because of their physical characteristics. Try it and you will see clearly.

		Examples of miscellaneous color samples

Without SCOTDIC, color samples need to be created with orderly gradations, from deep, medium to pale, on each single color. That is a tremendous process.

Data has to be built from scratch, assigning a number for each color, such as in SCOTDIC, based on color values taken from samples with a diverse variety of shapes, to create a classified compilation of colors and their distribution charts.

An enormous amount of time and effort will be called for, and of course, costs will be higher.


2) Why does color measuring and data compilation of various samples cost more?

Much speed is required for color determination and reproduction in the age of QR.

To create SCOTDIC-like color charts based on miscellaneous samples is to go against QR, taking a longer time for color communication, determination to reproduction.

Costs, too, will shoot up.

For example, to create dye-cloth samples based on colors printed on paper, such as in the pictures, it requires personnel with a long experience in color matching.

Selecting dyes is a time-consuming task when reproducing the same colors on specific fabric as those printed on paper or those on plastic.

Dyeing sample cloths with the use of selected dyes also takes time.

Re-dyeing will be necessary if there is much difference detected by the eye, between the dyed color on sample cloths and its base.

Find out how color determination is carried out

There is something we would like to be known at all costs to color planners in apparel companies and retailers.

A method of color determination, using a sample with a shade and depth seen from a 90° angle of reflection of sunlight coming in at 45° from a north window, laid out side by side with a piece of dye-cloth chart and compared by the naked eye, has now become a global standard.

The reason for the standardization is, as color alters through light and surroundings, to minimize differences in the conditions for color determination.

However, as colors determined by the eye under fluorescent lights are more and more frequently used in practice, color alteration under fluorescent lights, i.e. metamerism, cannot be ignored.

Allowable range is 0.2-0.5 NBS unit difference in shade and 2-5% in depth
between color samples and dyed results by a variation of light

The difference between samples and dyed results by a variation of light (E), within the range of 0.2-0.5 NBS unit in shade and 2-5% in depth, can hardly be detected and is generally accepted as a pass.

However, advanced expertise is required for color determination by the naked eye, beyond the individual visual perception and taste preferences of the personnel.

Even between similar shades, if there are differences between spectral reflectance curves of color samples and dyed results, judgements for the difference (E) may alter depending on the personnel because of different sensitivities to spectral reflectance for each wave length.

Shades may also alter considerably with colors such as gray, brown and olive even with the slightest difference in the reflective properties of the constituent yellow, red, blue or green.

"Time is money" is the key for SCM

Interview

Innacurate color communication will lead to considerable reduction in profits

What to do then?

SCOTDIC swiftly finds you trend colors or any colors you are looking for

How to swiftly work out dye/print recipes for selected SCOTDIC colors

What about without SCOTDIC?

Ways of using SCOTDIC

Course A example

Course B example

Course C example