|
 Choosing
acid dyes as your medium, rather than iron fix silk
paints for silk painting techniques, will produce more
vibrant and intense colours. The dyes penetrate the
fibres and are locked within the fabric through the
steaming process, ensuring greater wash and light fastness.
The results of this process far outweigh any inconvenience.
We offer two ranges of liquid dyes which are ideal
for silk painting, these include Dupont
Steam-fix dyes and Jacquard
Silk Colours. Alternatively, acid dye powder
can be made into a stock solution and used for silk
painting (see
how). It is however, difficult
to maintain a consistency in colour unless the exact
quantities are used each time.
The first thing to know about steam fixing is that
it is a 'dry' process. The dye is bonded to the fabric
at the temperature of steam. The fabric itself must
be kept dry throughout the fixing process,
any water in contact with the painted areas will cause
the colours to run or smudge.
Expensive equipment is not necessary to steam fix
your work. A pressure cooker is useful for small pieces,
and a bamboo rice steamer fitted over a saucepan of
water can be used very effectively. The use of a large,
specially
designed steamer is only necessary if you
are fixing longer lengths and quantities.
To Steam Fix your Work
- First make sure that all the painted surfaces are
completely dry. Lay the work flat on a piece of paper.
The purpose of the paper is to avoid any contact between
layers of the painted silk and to prevent gutta, where
used, from sticking to the next layer. Lining paper
will do for small items, but it is fragile and may
rip, allowing contact and transfer of the dye between
layers. Special steaming
paper is advisable and is significantly
stronger.
- Fold the packet gently to fit within the steamer
leaving a small space around the edge; this is the
point at which tears in the paper can occur. Now wrap
the packet in aluminium foil. Remember water must
not get into the packet, so ensure the edges are sealed
tightly, and any steam condensing on the packet in
the heating up period can not run inside and ruin
your work. Large rolls of painted fabric can be wrapped
in cling film to keep out any water.
- Run about 2 cm of water into the pressure cooker
and put the pack inside. Keep it well above the water
surface by placing it on a basin. Put a further disc
of foil over the pack to act as a shield from any
drips of water.
- Seal the lid, without using the pressure valve,
and raise to the boil over 15 mins and steam gently
for 45 minutes. Allow to cool and open carefully.
Steaming over an open pan will take up to 2 hours.
The steaming paper can often be reused, but the foil
may well leak and allow water in to ruin your next
project.
Solvent Based Gutta or Water Based Outliner?
 Clear
solvent based gutta is a latex rubber which penetrates
the fabric to create a barrier to prevent dye colours
from running into each other. This creates an outline
around elements of the painting as with this flower.
After steam-fixing the dyes, the gutta is slightly sticky
and can be removed by soaking the item in white spirit
and rinsing well or by having it dry-cleaned.
Clear water based outliner works on the same principle
as the solvent based gutta but washes out readily once
the dyes have been steam-fixed. Coloured water based
outliner, however, needs to be heat-fixed with an iron
prior to steam-fixing the dyes.
Browse
Silk Paints & Dyes |