10
votes
Accepted
Why do artists use pigments instead of dyes in paintings?
While more historical artists likely didn't understand the chemical processes behind the behaviors of the two options, the biggest reason is permanence.
Dyes are organic substances that are either ...
- 3,423
4
votes
Accepted
How can I fully bleach a polyester shirt?
Bleaching works "as expected" for natural plant fibers (e.g. cotton). Polyester is actually a plastic, and bleaching will not have the same effect. I expect one (some?) of the following:
no change;
...
- 1,911
3
votes
Accepted
Can you make epoxy resin art clearer (more transparent) after the object has dried?
Diagnostics
From the pictures, it looks like the problem is transparency rather than darkness from too much dye. In fact, the tinting is barely visible, so ignore my comment about trying to fade the ...
- 11.5k
3
votes
How to completely dye or tint or color clear transparency sheet?
There are fabric dyes for synthetic fibers that will work to tint clear transparency film, but it is a messy, time-consuming process. Also, anything you print or paint on the surface is unlikely to ...
- 11.5k
3
votes
Dyeing hard polycarbonate plastic
Get 2 clear plastic bowls that are the same size and some clear bathtub silicon in a tube. Glue one bowl in the eyeball, this is the iris - paint it so it looks good, glue the other bowl upside down ...
- 2,822
3
votes
Accepted
How can I properly dye rose petals?
I discovered that by simply cutting the stems and adding black dye to the vase and simply placing the roses in the vase will color them black. I tried this and it works great.
You can dye the ...
- 181
3
votes
Is Soda Ash used in Tie Dying septic safe?
Most of the resources that I reviewed agree that the amount of soda ash used for home dyeing is safe to pour down the drain. However, I agree that it is important to take extra precautions with a ...
- 1,576
2
votes
Creating one-way mirror-like lenses
If you put clear tape on frosted glass it becomes see-through.
You could try that if it's meant to be a momentary peek-though situation.
Or you could mostly frost it with white alcohol ink.
Just ...
- 171
2
votes
Why do artists use pigments instead of dyes in paintings?
The existing answers all seem to focus on stability and longevity. That's all true, but I think a more fundamental reason is suitability to the task of providing specific, desired colors where you ...
- 11.5k
2
votes
Why do artists use pigments instead of dyes in paintings?
As I understand it, dyes work via chemical reactions with the materials around them--the type of carrier liquid, chemicals within that carrier liquid, the material that they are being applied to, the ...
- 1,576
2
votes
Why do artists use pigments instead of dyes in paintings?
Most artists used the best materials for the job they could afford.
While dyes were often cheaper, you would often know that they would lose colour in the next few years, while pigments were often ...
- 2,946
2
votes
Accepted
Can I dye a pumpkin?
Well, yes you can... lots of people dip dye pumpkins using food coloring, though the outer skin of the pumpkin will not absorb the dyes as well as the flesh of the pumpkin. If you want to enhance the ...
- 3,423
2
votes
Accepted
How can I stop dye from rubbing off burlap?
It is hard to guess what went wrong in the dying process, but I am assuming you have a natural jute fiber burlap. You will probably have to dye the fabric again. What usually works is Rit - which you ...
- 2,822
2
votes
Can you make epoxy resin art clearer (more transparent) after the object has dried?
This cast was probably too high for this specific resin and due to the exothermic reaction the resin heated up so much that it boiled. That's why there are gigantic air bubbles in it and the surface ...
Elmy♦
- 13.8k
1
vote
How to completely dye or tint or color clear transparency sheet?
Reading the answer and comments I'd like to point out what probably won't work and why.
transparent inkjet sheets are coated with a rubbery substance that can absorb the printer ink. This coating will ...
Elmy♦
- 13.8k
1
vote
How can I properly dye rose petals?
If these are silk rose petals, I might try using some Rit or other fabric dye (the cheap kind you get in the little boxes at some hardware stores). I would put them in a zip-lock bag, pour in enough ...
- 426
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible