the preferred apparatus for conducting image analysis includes a microscope 7 , a digital camera 8 for capturing images of a sample of fibres and a computer 9 for analysing the images . the microscope is adapted for polarised light microscopy and has an optical light path 10 that includes polarising lenses 11 and 12 and a compensator plate 13 to enhance the interference colours appearing from the sample . the optical light path 10 also includes objectives lenses 14 capable of magnifying the sample of fibres up to 100 times its actual size . preferably the microscope is operated at a magnification ranging between 1 . 5 × and 5 × so that the number of fibres in the images captured is as high as possible without compromising the accuracy of the images captured . the compensator plate 13 is preferably made of a quartz or selenite material which retards the light by at least a quarter of a wavelength and produces the required interference colours on a red background and thus on which the properties of positive and negative bireferingence can be seen . the compensator plate is therefore often referred to a “ red plate ”. the optical light path 10 of the microscope 7 also includes a light source 15 that illuminates the fibre being tested . the type of light source 15 is dependent upon the interference colours to be analysed . according to the preferred apparatus a tungsten filament bulb or white light emitting diode ( s ) ( leds ) is used with a polarizing lens 11 and analyser 12 ordinarily crossed at 90 ° to each other and a first - order compensator 13 or full wavelength filter ordinarily mounted at 45 ° between the crossed lenses 11 and 12 to enhance the interference colours . the light source 15 and the lens 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 defining the optical light path 10 are in some respects similar to the systems presently being used by standard polarised light microscopy techniques . in addition , if necessary coloured leds can be used to augment specific areas of the image by selectively augmenting interference colours that correspond to structural features of the fibres in the images in accordance with standard practices . the microscope 7 also includes a stage 16 upon which the fibres can be presented for analysis . ideally the stage 16 can be moved in a plane perpendicular to the optical light path 10 by an electric stepping motor that is controlled using software integrated with the image and data analysis software of the computer 9 . a microscope slide containing the sample of fibre is mounted to the stage by clamps that prevent the slide from moving so that malfocus effects are kept to a minimum . the camera 8 for capturing the images is mounted on top of the polarized microscope 7 via a standard mount system which is not shown in the figures . the optical light path 10 may include a condensing lens between the camera 8 and the microscope 7 to reduce the magnification so that a larger field of view can be captured . in this regard a ccd sensor large enough to capture a field of view at the preferred magnification may also be required . the preferred camera 8 is an industrial type colour digital camera that is equipped with a 1 . 45 megapixel ⅔ ″ progressive ccd sensor that uses a bayer mosaic colour filter . the cell size of each pixel on the sensor is not less than 6 . 45 μm × 6 . 45 μm with a spectral response that is relatively stronger in the red colour region than the green or blue regions . a strong yellow response is also recommended . the power and data transfer requirements should ideally be combined in the one cable via an ieee 1394 , usb1 or usb2 interface . in use , it is preferred that the sample of fibres be prepared and presented in a way that provides consistently accurate results . initially the fibres are guillotined into snippet lengths , e . g ., 0 . 5 mm , 1 mm or 2 mm , and randomly spread over a large , e . g ., 50 mm × 70 mm , glass microscope slide using a spreading device . it is recommended that the density of fibres spread on the slide not compromise the expression of interference colours described in table 1 . a mounting medium providing good contrast is then applied in small drops over the snippets and another glass slide pressed carefully over the top as a cover slide . the microscope slide is then positioned on the microscope stage 16 and the microscope operating nobs adjusted to the desired magnification and illumination of the sample . one or more colour images of the sample are then captured using the digital camera 8 . in order to increase the sample size of the fibres being tested and thus reduce the testing error , separate images may be taken of different segments of the sample of fibres . the images are then sent from the camera 8 to the computer 9 which is programmed to analyse the images with reference to a preselected set of reference interference colour data for the type of fibre being tested . specifically , analysis is carried out by the computer 9 analysing the colour of the pixels in the images which are then compared to maturity reference data to determine maturity values and maturity distributions . any suitable algorithm may be used by the computer 9 for determining average maturity values and distribution values . the computer 9 may also be programmed so as to be capable of converting colour images into monochrome images whereby the computer 9 can carry out pixel analysis to determine other properties of the fibre in the image ( s ) such as : the total area of the fibres in each image ; the number of fibres in each image ; the length of the fibres in the image ( s ); the ribbon width of the fibres in the image ( s ); and the number of convolutions or twists per unit length of the fibre in the image ( s ). in addition , if the fibre includes fractures caused by micro - organisms and / or bacteria , the computer 9 can also carry out pixel analysis to determine the number and dimensions of the fractures on the surface of the fibre and thus the level or degree of attack on the fibres . the right hand column in fig2 provides a detailed breakdown of the steps taken by the computer 9 during the analysis of the image ( s ). the information included in fig2 has been included for illustration purposes only and is by no means limiting of the preferred embodiment . the left hand column of fig2 lists the physical features of the apparatus ; namely a microscope having an optical path for carrying out polarizing light microscopy , a camera in the form of a digital camera , and computer software operated by the computer 9 . the central provides a range of specification data and information on each component of the apparatus . it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made to the preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention . for example , computer analysis of the images captured may be carried out using any suitable algorithms and programs entered on the computer .