I have been reading a book by Jinks McGrath entitled Encyclopedia of
Jewelry-Making Techniques in which she describes a process of
shaping, then using a dye process on acrylic. I would like to do this
for one of my jewelry projects but the explicit process is not
explained in her book (page 13), nor have I been able to locate a
company with dye for acrylic. I am a student at the Herron School of
Art in Indianapolis.
In addition, I am trying to obtain small quantities of acrylic rods
in various colors. Does anyone know where I can obtain them?
Any assistance provided is appreciated.
Mary Moore
two possibilities come to mind for dying acrylic. one is usiner the
synthetic enamel Ceramit. I have used this myself with good results.
Be sure you mix the ratio for a hard finish as per instructions. The
colors come out very jewel tone and clear or opaque. the othe choice
is go to your local performing arts supplier and ask for bulb dye.
They dye light bulbs with it for display and theatre. I haven’t used
it in years but it should still be available and should work with
acrylic. Frank
G’day; (Sorry, I’m addicted & obsessed and can’t restrain myself)
Acrylic plastics cannot be dyed when not in their original liquid
form. Materials like solid Perspex (Methyl methacrylate, Lucite to
Americans) are homogenous and virtually impervious to dyeing. Painting,
yes. Surface colouring using certain solvent based dyes and pigments,
yes. But not dyed. However, you can buy acrylic (and other) resins in
liquid form which when mixed with appropriate dyes and/or pigments and
the proper catalyst, become solid with the colour homogenous
throughout the material, transparent or opaque according to what is
used.
What, you (well, some of you) ask, is the difference between a dye
and a pigment? Well, simply put, a dye will dissolve in some suitable
liquid; a pigment won’t. Dyes transmit light, pigments are opaque.
Thus; Wad (the blue material made from plants which the ancient
Britons once wore - bit cold, eh?) is a DYE So is black current juice
and blackberry juice and cochineal. Whereas ultramarine blue is made
from very finely ground lapis lazuli and mixed with oils as a PIGMENT.
(Leaned Ad Vine used it) So, to sum up, you DYE a piece of cloth, and
PAINT a house. But to thoroughly confuse the issue, you can paint your
nails with a transparent or an opaque paint!!! Isn’t English fun?
Bah, humbug. But Cheers anyway, – John Burgess