1. A method for estimating the fibre fineness of a known mass of fibres, the method including the steps of: a) capturing with an image capturing device either i) all of the fibres being tested in one or more images or ii) a fraction of the fibres being tested in one or more images; b) determining the total length of the fibre or fibres in the or each image using automated computer image analysis; and c) estimating the fibre fineness of the sample of fibres using the total fibre length in the image(s).