Rochester Institute of Technology RIT Scholar Works Theses 5-2019 A Study on the Effect of Fabric Structure and Finishing on Perceived Image Quality Payal Sharma [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.rit.edu/theses Recommended Citation Sharma, Payal, "A Study on the Effect of Fabric Structure and Finishing on Perceived Image Quality" (2019). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by RIT Scholar Works. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses by an authorized administrator of RIT Scholar Works. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A Study on the Effect of Fabric Structure and Finishing on Perceived Image Quality By Payal Sharma A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Print Media in the School of Media Sciences in the College of Art and Design of the Rochester Institute of Technology May 2019 Primary Thesis Advisor: Bruce Leigh Myers, Ph.D. Secondary Thesis Advisor: Christine Heusner, MFA School of Media Sciences Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, New York Certificate of Approval A Study on the Effect of Fabric Structure and Finishing on Perceived Image Quality This is to certify that the Master’s Thesis of Payal Sharma has been approved by the Thesis Committee as satisfactory for the Thesis requirement for the Master of Science in Print Media degree at the convocation of May 2019 Thesis Committee: Primary Thesis Advisor Dr. Bruce Myers ___________________________________________________ Secondary Thesis Advisor Professor Christine Heusner Graduate Program Director Dr. Bruce Myers ______________________________________________________ Administrative Chair Dr. Bruce Myers Acknowledgements I would like to express my deepest appreciation and gratitude to my committee, Dr. Bruce Myers and Professor Christine Heusner. Without their continued guidance and persistent help, this thesis would not have been possible. I would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Bruce Myers who has been a big source of support and guidance throughout my graduate career. I am extremely grateful and indebted for his valuable knowledge and expertise in the field of printing. I would also like to thank Professor Christine Heusner for always conveying a spirit of accomplishment and encouragement throughout my graduate studies. I would also like to thank RIT School of Media Sciences for giving me an opportunity to study in this program and for making the graduate school experience memorable. It is indeed an honor to be associated with the Rochester Institute of Technology society. I would also like to thank my parents and sisters for always inspiring me to do better. Their constant faith in me has been a key motivating factor. Lastly, I would like to thank my friends and staff members at School of Media Sciences who have lent their helping hand in this journey. i Table of Contents Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................. i List of Tables ...................................................................................................................... v List of Figures .................................................................................................................... vi Abstract ............................................................................................................................. vii Chapter 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 Background ..................................................................................................................... 1 Adoption of Inkjet Technology ....................................................................................... 1 The Status of the Textile Industry: Trend and Growth ................................................... 2 Problem Statement .......................................................................................................... 4 Significance of Topic ...................................................................................................... 5 Reason for Interest .......................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 2 Theoretical Basis ................................................................................................ 7 Engeldrum and Image Quality Circle .............................................................................. 7 Likert Scales .................................................................................................................. 10 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 11 Chapter 3 Literature Review ............................................................................................. 12 Overview of Direct-to-Garment (DTG) printing .......................................................... 12 Textile Inks .................................................................................................................... 14 Textile Substrates .......................................................................................................... 16 ii Treatment .......................................................................................................................17 Fabric Composition ........................................................................................................18 Finishing .........................................................................................................................19 Light Interaction .............................................................................................................20 Surface Qualities of Fabrics ...........................................................................................21 Image Quality .................................................................................................................22 Impact of Texture and Fabric Structure on Quality .......................................................23 Impact of Fabric Finishing on Image Quality ................................................................25 Psychophysics ............................................................................................................... 28 Human Perception ......................................................................................................... 29 Visual Perception Assessment ...................................................................................... 29 Thurstone Law of Comparative Judgment .................................................................... 30 Parametric Effects ......................................................................................................... 30 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 32 Chapter 4 Research Question ............................................................................................ 33 Chapter 5 Methodology .................................................................................................... 34 Overview ....................................................................................................................... 34 Sample Selection ........................................................................................................... 34 Textile Samples ............................................................................................................. 35 Variables ........................................................................................................................ 36 Procedure ....................................................................................................................... 36 Chapter 6 Results .............................................................................................................. 39 iii Overview ....................................................................................................................... 39 Survey Demographics ................................................................................................... 40 Ishihara Color Perception Test ...................................................................................... 41 Image Attribute Results of Sample 1: Cotton Duck ...................................................... 41 Image Attribute Results of Sample 2: Satin Twill ........................................................ 44 Image Attribute Results of Sample 4: Silk Satin ........................................................... 51 Analysis of Research Objectives ................................................................................... 54 Chapter 7 Summary and Conclusion ................................................................................ 63 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 63 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 65 Limitations .................................................................................................................... 65 Future Research ............................................................................................................