Best Way To Fade Colors

[hacken94]

Just wonder what types of dyes/stains work best when you are trying to fade from color to color. And also some techniques that work well when you are trying to fade from color to color.

[JLSleather]

All a matter of personal preference. There are unlimited combinations of color and method, so it becomes a matter of the look you want and the method you're comfortable with. Examples ...

I use Fiebing's spirit dyes, and usually in an airbrush. This is more for speed than for effect. I use brushes (red sable hair) to get the look I want at times, and the look and the technique are different even though it's the same dye.

I don't use acrylics at all, but I've seen VERY nice work by those who use acrylics.

One large difference is that the acrylics tend to be more opaque, as a rule. If you put light blue spirit dye on "yellow-tan" (natural) leather, you'll get a greenish tint, because the natural leather "adds" to the color of the light blue. Light blue acrylics tend to cover the underlying color - even when thinned - and will result in a more pure light blue. Keep in mind that this comes from a guy who has tried various acrylics on different substances - and in the end chose the spirit dyes for leather.

For what it's worth ...

[Leatherimages]

One of our leather friends, Peter Main, demonstrates a "dry brush" technique, to blend and fade in and out of colors.

It's a very effective way to achieve what an air brush is excellent at.

Peter's book is available from the usual suspects.