Determination of Relative Color Strength by Means of Principal Component Analysis

A proposal is introduced for evaluation of relative color strength of two synthesized basic dyes Yellow 28 and Blue 41 by means of the principal component analysis technique. This property is usually determined by reflectance data of dyed samples at various concentrations. However, acceptable results are only yielded whenever one constant Kubelka-Munk function (K/S) exhibited linear behavior with concentration. In the present study, principal component analysis technique was applied to K/S data to find an optimum linear concentration range. The results showed that an appropriate range of concentration can be recognized by the percent variation for the first eigenvector. In addition, the ratio of eigenvalues corresponding to the first eigenvector in both synthesized and commercial sample (standard) is described as a criterion for determination and control of relative color strength. The results are compared with those obtained by the three common methods namely visual assessment, absorptiometry of colored solution and a weighted Kubelka-Munk function. J. Color Sci. Tech. 3(2009), 189-198 © Institute for Color Science and Technology.