Choosing Silk Dyes and Silk Paints

Choosing Silk Dyes/Paints

We have 4 types of silk dyes and paints, with several brands within each type. All are liquids. All work well and have devoted fan clubs. Different strokes for different folks!

Type 1. Dyes that must be fixed (set) using steam. These give the brightest, most vivid and most washfast results. They leave no “feel” on the silk, (you don’t feel anything different where the dye is). Most are French and contain some alcohol. Profesional silk painters often use these. Dupont, Tinfix Design, Procion H Series, Jacquard Silk Colors, and Pebeo Silk are examples.

Type 2. Dyes that can be fixed using a liquid fixative, either by dipping the painted silk into the diluted fixative or brushing the diluted fixative onto the silk. These produce colors that some say are not quite as bright as type 1 and perhaps not as washfast. These dyes can also be steam set and then are perhaps almost as bright & washfast as those above. They also leave no “feel” on the silk. Jacquard Silk Colors and Tinfix Design are examples.

Type 3. Paints that are very thin, almost like dyes. They are fixed by ironing with a hot iron after they are dry. They are waterbased and very easy to work with. The colors may not be as bright as either of the above, or maybe they are - matter of opinion. They leave some “feel” on the silk, but not so much that it is a problem for most people. Dyna-flow, Setacolor, Arty's Heat Set, Silkcolor, and Setasilk are examples.

Type 4. Instant-Set Pigment Silk Dye- just dilute, paint on and air dry for 12-24 hours. No fixatives, steaming or heatsetting required! Like a hybrid between a dye and a paint- Leaves a slight testure on the silk and a softer color than the Type 3 paints.

For beginners, we recommend starting with either 2, 3 or 4. It's easy to have a good experience with those. As you progress, you may decide to switch to Type 1 for the added depth and brilliance of color.