Name: Wes
Message: What would be the best way to permanently dye canvas drop-cloths that painters use? The ones I have are white and they are normally used by painters. I want to try using them for photography backgrounds. Thank you very much.

Low water immersion dyeing is the best way to make subtly mottled backgrounds. See "How to Do Low Water Immersion Dyeing". You will want to experiment to see how pale or intense in color you like your backdrops. If you find that you've made one that is too pale, you can always dye it over again.

Use Procion MX dye, or another fiber reactive dye, not an all-purpose dye such as Rit. You will probably need to buy this dye by mail-order; see "Sources for Dyeing Supplies Around the World".

Use canvas or wide muslin that is made of 100% cotton or another natural fiber, such as linen or hemp. You will also need soda ash, to set the dye; you can buy soda ash from your dye suppliers or from a hardware store.

Since it is difficult to get dye to penetrate tightly-woven canvas, presoak the fabric in water to which you've added a single drop of detergent, either the dyer's detergent Synthrapol, or hand dishwashing detergent, or another surface tension reducer such as Photo-Flo. 

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