Last Updated on: May 25th, 2026
Contents
— What is the Difference Between Pigments and Dyes?
The main difference between pigments and dyes lies in whether or not they dissolve in water. This difference will affect how they adhere to substrates such as paper and canvas.
Most of the coloring materials carried by pigiment.live are pigments.
Pigments
Compared to dyes, pigment particles are larger and do not dissolve in water.
For this reason, pigment are usually mixed with a binder to make paint. Rather than soaking into materials like fabric or paper, the pigment particles adhere to the surface of the substrate through the binder.
Dyes
Dyes are soluble substances. Therefore, color is fixed by soaking into fibers of fabric or paper. Moreover, by applying a chemical process called mordanting, it strengthens the fixation power and allows the dye to appear more vibrant in color.
— What are the Characteristics of Pigments and Dyes?
Characteristics of Pigments
By changing the type of binder, pigments can be transformed into a wide variety of paints suited to different purposes and forms of expression.
Natural pigments made from ground minerals are particularly known for their excellent lightfastness.
Characteristics of Dyes
Due to its soluble nature, dyes penetrate cloth and fibers, making them well-suited for textiles such as clothing that require flexibility.
Dyes derived from natural sources tend to fade easily when exposed to light.
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— What Types of Pigments and Dyes are There?
Pigments and dyes are made from a wide range of raw materials. Let’s take a look at the table below, here are some representative examples.
|
Category |
Type |
Raw Material |
|
Pigments |
Mineral Pigment |
Ground and refined natural minerals or artificial minerals (glass and metal oxides) |
|
Pigment |
Chemical synthesis of organic or inorganic materials |
|
|
Effect Pigment |
Mica, glass or metals as the base materials |
|
|
Dyes |
Natural Dye |
Extracted from plants (barks and tree sap) or animals (insects) |
|
Synthetic Dye |
Artificially synthesized from petroleum and other raw materials through chemical processes |
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— Can I Use the Coloring Materials from pigiment.live to Dye Fabric?
The majority of pigments carried by pigiment.live do not dissolve in water and do not penetrate fibers. Therefore, they are not suitable for dyeing fabric.
—What Can I Do If I Want to Paint on Fabric Using Art Materials from pigiment.live?
Although pigments are not for “dyeing” fabric, they have been used to “paint” on the surface of fabric since ancient times.
Using Paint or Pigments
You can paint on fabric using acrylic paint, alkyd resin paint, oil paint or similar media.
When using pigments, mix them with a binder such as acrylic emulsion (water-based) or oil color medium (oil-based).
By using these paints and binders, the finished work becomes water-resistant once dry.
[Surface Preparation]
Oil-based: Oil Paint
To prevent oil stains from seeping through, it is recommended to treat the surface of the fabric in advance by applying a ground such as gesso.
|
Oil Painting Materials View Products |
Water-based: Acrylic Paint / Alkyd Resin Paint
You can use acrylic paints or alkyd resin paints directly on a fabric. However, by applying a ground first, it will improve the adhesion and color vibrancy of the paint.
Since the final result varies depending on the type of fabric and the painting method, it is recommended to test on a sample patch before applying it to your main artwork.
[Reminder]
Since the pigment remains attached to the surface of the fabric, depending on the concentration of the paint and the combination of materials used, the color may peel or wear off due to stretching of the fabric or washing.
|
Acrylic Paints View Products |
|
Alkyd Resin Paints View Products |
To Further Improve Adhesion
When painting on clothing or other textiles, you can either use fabric paints or mix water-based paints with a fabric medium (a binder specifically designed for textiles). This helps reduce color fading caused by fabric stretching or washing.
*Please note that pigiment.live does not carry fabric paints or fabric mediums. Please refer to each product’s instructions for details on how to use them.
For more information on how to use pigments, please refer to the following article.
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—Is There a Way to Turn Dyes into Pigments?
In certain cases, dyes can be converted into water-insoluble pigments. For example, by applying dye onto a colorless pigment through a chemical refining process known as “lake-ifying” (lake formation / lake pigment).
However, proper lake formation requires specialized equipment and expertise, making it difficult to carry out in a typical home setting.
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PIGMENT ARTICLES delivers a wide variety of information about art. You’ll find instructions on traditional painting techniques, art materials, and the latest updates on products, workshops, and events.
We invite you to explore our articles for creative inspiration and to deepen your knowledge.
PIGMENT ARTICLES delivers a wide variety of information about art. You’ll find instructions on traditional painting techniques, art materials, and the latest updates on products, workshops, and events.
We invite you to explore our articles for creative inspiration and to deepen your knowledge.
Writer
Myu Hanaoka
Graduated with a BFA in Japanese painting from Hiroshima City University and completed her MFA in Painting at Tokyo University of the Arts.
Her art practice is based on "rethinking identities of lands and cultures” using traditional Japanese painting techniques.
Favorite matière: Traces of damage, loss, and repair accumulated on the painting surfaces caused by the environment surrounding the paintings.
Graduated with a BFA in Japanese painting from Hiroshima City University and completed her MFA in Painting at Tokyo University of the Arts.
Her art practice is based on "rethinking identities of lands and cultures” using traditional Japanese painting techniques.
Favorite matière: Traces of damage, loss, and repair accumulated on the painting surfaces caused by the environment surrounding the paintings.
Translator
Nelson Hor Ee Herng
Graduated with a BFA in Japanese painting from Tama Art University. Using paintings, embroideries and installations to document issues related to our modern society.
Favorite material: Mineral pigments used by ancient people to paint murals.
Graduated with a BFA in Japanese painting from Tama Art University. Using paintings, embroideries and installations to document issues related to our modern society.
Favorite material: Mineral pigments used by ancient people to paint murals.