Color Matching Acid dye Formulas FAQ
How can I see what the dye color will look like?
Each dye formula will appear differently on different base fibers. When I was developing my color matching process, I used a superwash Merino wool/nylon blend yarn. If you’re using a different fiber base, the best way to see how the dye color will appear on fiber is to do a test swatch.
If you would like to get a sense of how the color looks in real life compared to a monitor, then I suggest looking at the spot color printed swatches from a Pantone® Uncoated Formula Guide. (Please note that Pantone® is a registered trademark company and that my formulas are not affiliated with or endorsed by Pantone®. Their products and product names are used only for color comparison purposes).
If you don’t have access to that, the next best solution would be to find a comparable paint swatch since the colors on your monitor or printer may be misleading. To find the corresponding brand of paint and color options, visit https://encycolorpedia.com/ and enter the HEX number provided on the Pantone® uncoated color number page. To locate this information and obtain a physical color swatch, follow these steps:
Visit Pantone’s® color finder website (click here)
Enter the Pantone® U color number (example 143U).
Scroll down until you see the Pantone® Formula Guide Uncoated U color number (example 143U) .
Copy the HEX/HTML number. (example F6A04D)
Visit encycolorpedia.com and paste the HEX/HTML number into the search bar and click “Search”.
Scroll down and find a brand of paint that is available to you locally and has close match to the color (example Sherwin-Williams® Osage Orange - 6890)
Visit a local store that carries that paint brand and ask for a color swatch. This will yield a closer more accurate color comparison than viewing the color on your monitor or a print out, but it won’t be as close as the Pantone® Uncoated Formula Guide swatch.
Always dye a test swatch first before dyeing an entire project’s worth of yarn/fiber to ensure satisfaction with the color match.
The Color Matching Dye Formulas are not affiliated with or endorsed by Pantone®, Pantone® color names and numbers are used solely for color comparison purposes
The color matching system works best when using dyes from PRO Washfast Acid dyes, Greener Shades dyes, and Dharma Acid dyes. If you don’t have access to these dyes, then try using the closest comparable color to whatever dyes you do have to the suggested dye colors in the formula.
If after doing a test swatch you aren’t pleased with your preferred dye brands, then try ordering the suggested colors. The system does work across brands, but dependable substitutions haven’t been tested at this time. The formulas serve as a starting point to help you get closer to your desired end color and can be modified and adjusted according to your needs, similar to a recipe and tweaking the amount of saltiness in the dish.
Can I use any brand of dyes?
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