Practical Spectrophotometric Color Measurement Setup in Textile Dyeing Operations
Standardizing instrument geometry, sample conditioning, and CIEDE2000 mathematical parameters establishes repeatable spectrophotometric shade clearance in bulk dyeing.
QTX File
Data Format
A proprietary, text-based file format designed by Datacolor transmits spectrophotometric color measurement data and metadata. In international textile manufacturing, using a qtx file is a standard method for submitting electronic color submissions to buying houses. This digital transfer replaces the slow and expensive process of sending physical dyeings through international mail.
Information Architecture
The file structure contains specific blocks that detail the name of the lot, the spectrophotometer model, the illuminant used, and the percentage reflectance. Because it is written in plain text, it can be easily opened, edited, or checked using simple text editors if needed. This format allows garment brands to verify that the mill utilized the correct measurement parameters, such as a large area view aperture and a specular-included gloss setting.
By parsing this file, automated quality control systems can instantly approve or reject a batch based on the calculated delta E value.
Supply Workflow
In a typical workflow, the dyer measures the finished batch and uploads this file to the buyer’s quality control portal. Within seconds, the portal sends back an automated approval, allowing the mill to proceed with fabric cutting.
System Limits
Some non-Datacolor spectrophotometers require conversion utilities to read or write this file format properly. Minor differences in how different software platforms interpret the headers can sometimes lead to data errors.