DYES - Steam & iron fixed
Both steam dyes and iron fixed dyes are colour fast after fixing.
Steam fixed:
These dry quickly because they
are spirit based, they give a beautiful smooth background colour when they are
combined with a diluent (alcohol). The silk gains an extra glow and vibrancy
after it is steamed. The dye can be thickened and controlled with manutex or (epassisant). Steam fix
before washing. This can really only be done on pure silk. Allow the steamed silk to wash clear under luke –warm
water. Can use mild soap.
Iron fixed:
Quick and easy to use.Paint on
,leave to dry, iron and wash.They work well with salt. The pigment of these dyes
sits on the surface of the silk,resulting in a opaque –like finish, without the
glow of the steam-set dyes. The silk loses
most its softness and lustre.
Gutta. (SERTI)
Serti in French means to
encircle. The term is used for jewellery design, where gold and silver
encircle precious stones .
This substance separates the colors, it has a honey
like consistency. The gutta is put into a cone container or into an applicator
bottle, and applied to the silk, (through a metal nib or a cut down polished
syringe needle, attached to the applicators), over the pencil lined drawing.
Once the gutta has dried, it prevents the different dye colours from bleeding
into one another. If there happens to be a break in the gutta line, then by
capillary action, the dye will force its way through bythe break in the gutta
line, and the neighbouring colours will mix.. Clear water based gutta does not
become fixed by any of the heating processes, except (metallic gutta), which is
usually water based and needs iron or steam fixing. There are two types of gutta…Water based and Spirit based.
Water based:
This gutta is easier for a
beginner to use ,as it usually does not thicken with age or hot weather. It has
no smell and washes out in warm soapy water, after ironing, or steaming. This
gutta retains a good flowing
consistency(good shelf life).If lumpy, disgard. It colours easily. Put a small
quantity in a container, and add a few drops of coloured spirit based dye and
mix thoroughly. This gutta application, must be completely dry before you begin
to paint on the silk. Use a hairdryer.
Spirit based:
This gutta forms an excellent
barrier for the silk dye due to its latex content. Any dye that accidentally
gets onto the gutta line will not affect its barrier qualities. It does not
have to be completely dry before you start painting. This gutta thickens in
warm weather, Therefore you must keep
it in a cool place, and always pour it back into its original container as the gutta dissolves certain plastic containers.
Stiff tracing paper formed into
a cone (e.g. A cone for cake icing) is a suitable substitute for the plastic
container.
To thin the gutta, use essence f. This spirit gutta is not as easy to colour as
the water based one. Use 12mm of coloured typographical
ink with a little essence-f , or white
spirit with gutta in a cup and stir well.The depth of colour, depends on the
amount of ink used. After steaming the silk , soak in white spirit and gently
rub.
PIPPETE
This is a transparent plastic
bottle. The softer the plastic the easier to use, and expel the gutta. Attach
a graphic nib (No 8) ,onto the pipette
nozzle. Tape with masking tape for security. A fine pin or copper wire keeps the
nib clear of drying gutta when not in use. The nibs vary in size from 0.8 to 0.4.If the flow of the gutta is to fast
use a 0.6 gauge nib.
Use a pencil or embroidery pen
.Felt tipped embroidery pen contains an ink that disappears immediately as it
comes into contact with water. Or fades after 4days if the weather is wet. One
can tape the wood with masking tape
to prevent the dyes that remain from
affecting the new piece of silk.
PAINT BRUSHES
Size 4 6,8,10,or 12 are suitable. Ideally one
should have a couple of brushes of each size, so that the reds, yellows and
blues can be used separately. Sometimes, when painting a pink petal, one may
pick up the residue of green on the brush from the previous time.
