Seed coat fragments in ginned lint are portions of cottonseed that are broken from seeds during mechanical processing. They are usually black or dark brown and may or may not have fiber and linters attached. Ginners and spinners are concerned about the effects of seed coat fragments on the spinning process and on the quality of finished products. When the fabrics are dyed, seed coat fragments become obvious as dark spots. Fibers attached to some of the fragments are lighter in color than the adjacent fibers, because they are lower in maturity and therefore absorb less dye. The effects of cottonseed particles along with neps have increased in importance to the cotton industry as the demand for improved fabric quality has increased.