Making/mixing Dyes For Custom Colors?

[zaynexpetty]

I have searched the forums but havent found any good answers. I like oil dye, as I haven't had any problems with it, and I havent tried any water/alcohol based dyes yet. I use cut resolene as a finish, and I heard people have had issues with water/alcohol based dyes coming off when using it.

Anyways, I would like to create my own custom colors of dye, whether that requires making dyes from scratch or mixing two existing dyes. I am looking to make colors like indigo/navy, maroon/dark red, and dark green.

What is the best way to achieve this? I use feibings pro oil dye now, but I am completely open to suggestions.

Thanks

Zayne

Edited March 16, 2014 by zaynexpetty

[Tina]

Now, somebody shoot me if I'm wrong...Fiebings oil dye is an alcohol based dye with oil in it. Which means you use alcohol to delute it to the shade/strength you like.

To mix upp your own colors you need the Primary colors ie: True red, yellow and blue. These can not be mixed from other colors but is the base for any other color out there.

Having black in your "library" is also most useful. If I remeber right from my earlier art classes you'll get black by using equal parts of the 3 primary colors.

I did find some recipes online, try them out and see if it works :-)

Navy blue: First, mix red and yellow together in equal parts to make orange. Mix one-fourth part orange with one part ultramarine blue. Since orange is the complementary color to blue, it will darken blue’s hue. If the color is too dark, add more blue. If it is too light, add more orange.

Maroon: Maroon is a dark purple color on the reddish side. To get maroon you mix red, blue and a touch of black. Using primary colors the ratios are 8 parts red to 4 parts blue with 1 part black

Dark Green: You can mix blue and yellow, with a tiny bit of black. First mix the blue and yellow to get the color of green you want, then mix in just a speck of black at a time till you get the green as dark as you want it.

Good Luck and have fun :-)

Edited March 16, 2014 by Tina

[TomG]

Well, someone tell me where I went wrong. I needed Orange. I mixed red and yellow together in equal parts but it just came out a lighter red.

I did cut it to 25% red and 75% yellow and it is heading towards orange, but not quite there yet.

[Tina]

Well, someone tell me where I went wrong. I needed Orange. I mixed red and yellow together in equal parts but it just came out a lighter red.

I did cut it to 25% red and 75% yellow and it is heading towards orange, but not quite there yet.

You start with a yellow base and sloooowly ad a drop of red/or and pink to the mix until you're happy. Another way is to use a yellowish/green and then ad a drop at the time of red/or and pink.

[JoyceLee]

Hi Tina,

Any idea how I could get a pretty lavender color on both veg tanned leather and kangaroo lace?

I have a full set of Feibings Pro Oil Dye and a full set of Eco Flo Pro Waterstains

Thanks in advance for any help...

Joyce

[Tina]

Hi Tina,

Any idea how I could get a pretty lavender color on both veg tanned leather and kangaroo lace?

I have a full set of Feibings Pro Oil Dye and a full set of Eco Flo Pro Waterstains

Thanks in advance for any help...

Joyce

Now, I don't use any of your brands which means I'm not informed about the color choises they have.

To get a nice lavender in general use a light blue (delutet blue) or as Angelus have a "Blue Jean" and Very Slowly in small amonts ad some red. It will not take much at all. Then you delute it to the shade you desire. I would apply in in turns, one layer ontop of each other and let the surface dry in between until you like what you see :-)

A little side note:

Lilac/lavender is one of them colors that I have never manage to get nice after aplying it to leather. It looks perfect on the plate but gets a dirty, muddy, unclean look on the leather. I have almost giving this color up totally unless I have a very bright, pale hide to work with. Any normal to darker hide and the color will look crappy.

Good luck//Tina