Characterizing Fabric Pilling by Using Image-analysis Techniques. Part II: Comparison with Visual Pill Ratings

Pilling was evaluated on 122 solid-shade fabrics in two ways: by a subjective visual rating with ASTM photographic standards and by objective image analysis by using a computer-based imaging system developed specifically for pilling analysis. Pilling features evaluated by image analysis were: the total number, total area, and total volume of pills present; coefficients of variation of distributions of pill size, shape, orientation angle, and contrast; and the uniformity of pill spatial distribution on the fabric. Relationships between human-based visual ratings and objectively measured pill features were explored.