Abstract: The elements, structure and funtions of an optical tobacco sorter is introduced. The sorter consists of 3 main parts:single-layer tobacco conveyer, optical and digital video image processor and electric controller. The color and figure of foreign matter are compared with that of tobacco by a linear CCD camera and foreign matter could be rejected by pneumatic electromagnetic valve. In general, the resolution capability of the optical tobacco sorter could resolve 1.0×10⁹ kinds of color, and its resolving power to figure could reach 0.73mm.