Silk Painting How to

Silk Dyes

Artists choose silk dyes for two reasons: the richness of colors that they bring to silk painting and the fact that they do not change either the ‘hand’ (feel) or luminosity of the silk.

 

Several kinds of dyes are formulated specifically for painting on silk. Be sure to work in a well-ventilated area when working with silk dyes and most other silk painting products.

 

Steam-Set Dyes
These dyes need to be set into the silk fibers by steaming. In the steaming process, the dyes form a chemical bond with the silk fibers and become permanent. All brands below can be used together interchangeably.

 

The most well-known brands are:

H. Dupont Classique
H. Dupont dyes have existed for more than 60 years and are well-known around the world. Recently the company producing these dyes was purchased and the dyes were reorganized into 80 colors called H. Dupont Classique with new number codes. The product appears to be the same.
These dyes are concentrated and so dilutants are often added when using them.
The colors are vibrant and become even more so when steamed.
These dyes can be used with all techniques.

 

Sennelier Tinfix
Tinfix dyes are made by the French firm, Sennelier, which has been making art supplies since 1887. Be sure to visit Magasin Sennelier at 3 Quai Voltaire if you are in Paris. Sennelier created their current Tinfix line in 1994.
These dyes dilute well and steam well and have great longevity and color fastness.
Some artists would say that Tinfix Ebony Black #104 is the most reliable of all dyes for doing a solid black background. To get even coverage, scrub and scrub the background for the best distribution of the dye and a rich result.

 

Jacquard Red Label
Jacquard dyes are made in the U.S.A and are less expensive for North Americans than imported dyes.
They have a good range of colors and some artists are devoted to them.
All application techniques can be used.

 

Jacquard Silk (Green) Label
Jacquard Green Label dyes are less concentrated than red label. They have a different chemistry so that they can be either steam set or chemically set using Jacquard’s Dyeset Fixative. To get the strongest colors, allow the dye to dry for 24 hours before fixing.

 

Chemical Fixative Dyes
A few brands can be set using a liquid fixative as an alternative to steaming. The colors will not be as bright as when steam set, but the hand of the silk will be the same as before the piece was fixed. Brands that can be fixed using this method are:

 

Sennelier Tinfix
Jacquard Silk (Green) Label
(see above)


TobaSign
Available in Europe and suitable for all natural fibers.
Can be steam set or fixed with Tobafix.

 

Alter Ego by Dupont.
Alter Ego by Dupont is based on double vat dyeing for fabrics made of different fibers, one an animal fiber (i.e. silk) and the second one a plant fiber (i.e. viscose, rayon). This is particularly useful for devoré fabrics (velvet, satin...) where you can use 2 different colors in one 35 minute bath, simmering the dyes, fabric, vinegar, salt and Alter Ego dye fixative together on the stove.

 

Powdered Dyes
Several dyes come in powder form and are more economical than liquid dyes. However, once mixed, the solution will only last about a week. The dyes do not affect the feel of the fabric and some artists believe they achieve good results.


Fiber Reactive Dyes are the dyes of choice for cellulose plant fibers such as cotton but can also be used on silk. They are most often set with a soda ash fixative.

 

Acid Dyes are made for protein fibers and need to be steamed.

 

These dyes are often used for tub dying or for shibori work:

Procion MX Dyes and Jacquard Acid Dyes
Jacquard recommends their acid dyes as the dye of choice for silk.

Dharma Fiber Reactive Procion Dyes and Dharma Acid Dyes

Silky Way Powdered Dyes by Atelier De Paris
For use on all natural fibers which makes them useful for devore techniques.