What's a good type of dye? I was planning on doing air-brushing on a t-shirt of mine. I have the air-brush but I was wondering what is a good type of dye that won't wash off if I wash the t-shirt.

The most effective kind of dye to use for airbrushing a 100% cotton t-shirt is a cool water fiber reactive dye, such as Procion MX dye. This is the kind of dye found in all the good tie-dye kits; it is much better for airbrushing than hot-water dyes such as Rit.

Procion MX dye must be fixed with soda ash. One easy way to do this is to presoak the shirt in soda ash dissolved in water, then wring out the excess moisture and spray dye directly on the shirt. The dye need only be dissolved in water to use in the airbrush. Follow the same recipe as used for tie-dyeing, but filter your dye mixtures before use, since undissolved particles might cause clogging.

For a 50% polyester t-shirt, don't use dye. The colors come out only half as intense on 50% polyester 50% cotton, so the results are not very good. Instead, you can air-brush with a good thin fabric paint. A good choice is Dye-na-Flow, by Jacquard Products. Dilute it with up to 25% water before use. Fabric paint feels softer than other paints, and can stick to the fabric better. Paint that is not marketed specifically for use on fabric will make the fabric feel scratchy.

In either case, be very careful not to let any of the airborne dye or paint get loose. Spray outside or in a spraying booth, and wear a properly-fitted respirator. Inhaled dye particles can cause allergies to dye, with subsequent asthma if the same dye continues to be used. Inhaled paint of any sort can gum up your lungs and cause emphysema. Please be careful. Squirting dye onto t-shirts from plastic squeeze bottles is safer than air-brushing. There's nothing else that gives the same effects as air-brushing, though.

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