Name: Lynn
Message: Hi,
I love your site. What's your take on Pigment Dyes versus Procion Dyes. Any Help will be Greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Pigment dyes are not real dyes; they are fabric paint, instead, which means a mixture of a pigment with a glue-like binder. This means that they wear off of the surface of the fabric relatively quickly. This is considered highly desirable in cases where a look of "instant age" is wanted; however, at other times, obviously, it is not.

Pigment dyes are rather cool for special effects, but they can never replace the versatility, permanence, subtlety, or brightness of high quality fiber reactive dyes (such as Procion MX dyes). Those who say that pigment dye is "just as good as" fiber reactive dye are not telling the whole truth. There are some applications for which pigment dye is as good as real dye, or even better (such as when you're going for a distressed look); however, real dye is by far the best for many other purposes. Also, the heat-setting required can be more trouble than just pre-soaking in soda ash, as one does with Procion MX dyes. According to Dharma Trading Company, Dharma Pigment Dye is "not recommended for solid color dying, as they do not set until they are dry, which means that the color will migrate while drying." They add that on cotton and rayon it produces a distressed look after washing, with results that are completely different from the usual tie-dye.

On the other hand, pigment dye can be used on different fiber types, some of which are a pain to use real dye on. You can tie-dye polyester much more easily with pigment "dye" fabric paint than with disperse dye, which is the only dye that will bond to polyester (as all-purpose dye and fiber reactive dye just wash right off). I strongly recommend pigment dye for beginners who want to tie-dye 100% polyester.

If you are going to tie-dye cotton with only one technique, that one technique should be with real, high quality, dye, such as Procion MX dye; however, if you want to try something new and have already experienced the superior results of good fiber reactive dyes, pigment dyes can be a fun sideline to try, in addition. The fact that the pigment "dyes" do not set until they are dry means that they will probably work for sun-printing, as well.


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