Dharma Pigment FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Dharma Pigment Dye, a unique no-steam, air-cure dye system for silk and other fabrics with minimal heat setting requirements.
Is there a silk dye that doesn't need some manner of setting?
Yes, we have one called Dharma Pigment Dye. Although, technically, it is a pigment product, like paint, it behaves more like a dye. You just paint it on and let it air-dry for 12 to 24 hours. It bonds instantly with the fiber but does not spread as easily as silk dyes and the colors react very quickly, so you need to work fast. After air curing just rinse to remove excess dye. Quick heat setting with an iron does improve the color retention, though. This product does fade a little after the first washing to give that unique "pigment dyed" stonewashed looking effect.
What is the Pigment Dye System?
The Dharma Pigment Dye System is a highly concentrated, non-toxic, pigment system that when applied to fabrics, feels and acts more like a dye than a paint. Unlike dyes however, you can get washfast, dry cleanable, permanent results without the use of steamers, heat setting, or chemical fixatives. Paint it on and let it air-dry for at least 24 hours. It can be used on silk, nylon, polyester, synthetics and blends. On cotton it gives completely different results from the usual tie-dye and in some ways it is much easier and cheaper to use. It does require some heatsetting though, about 15 minutes in a home dryer or some ironing. Squirting, brushing or dipping produces very good results which have a distressed or "stonewashed" effect after washing. On most synthetics it is very intense with no heat setting at all. On Silk it does benefit from a little heat setting, as on cotton. It spreads very little when painted on silk so you can do more detail work without the use of resists. The salt technique works very well. If the 24 hours to air cure is a problem you can speed it up by using a home dryer or an iron. On nylon the fiber needs to be prepared for printing (PFP). If the nylon is not PFP it has usually been treated with oils and it will not absorb the pigment properly. This is a very concentrated liquid pigment which is used by mixing 1 part pigment to 4 parts water for maximum depth of shade, which makes it more economical. If you require pastel shades, just add more water or white base. It also comes in Fluorescent colors that POP under blacklight!
