The U.S. cotton classification system has been undergoing significant
changes, moving from human classing to the use of precise instruments.
Along with this trend, the current research is an effort to develop a
new computer vision system to measure detailed trash and color attrib
utes of raw cotton. The system primarily consists of a color CCD camer
a, xenon flash light, and customized software. In this paper, we intro
duce a new trash and spot identification method, multidimension thresh
olding, and the methods for characterizing size, spatial density, shap
e, and color of trash and spots present in cotton samples. We report o
n the trash and color measurements of twelve cotton samples, including
statistical data and distribution curves, and we compare the results
from this system with those from other instruments such as the Spinlab
and Motion Control HVI machines and the Minolta Chroma Meter CR-210.
Finally, we investigate the influence of trash and spots on cotton col
or values.