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Home / Jenny Sez / Powdered Dyes verses Pigment Powders

Powdered Dyes verses Pigment Powders

October 4, 2015

Lately there has been a LOT of buzz around powdered watercolors/dyes lately- products like ColorBurst, Brusho, and Magical have all been on the “hot” list this summer. But recently a reader asked, “What is the difference between Pearl Ex/ Perfect Pearls and Brusho (or another of the above.) While they are both powdered color, they are not the same. Some are powdered DYES, while others are PIGMENT powders.

What is the difference between Brusho and Pearl Ex? I answer this question today!

The main difference is that one is a DYE and the other a PIGMENT. Want the Wiki definitions?

A dye is a colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied. The dye is generally applied in an aqueous solution, and may require a mordant to improve the fastness of the dye on the fiber.[1]

Both dyes and pigments are colored because they absorb some wavelengths of light more than others. In contrast to dyes, pigments are insoluble and have no affinity for the substrate.

A pigment is a material that changes the color of reflected or transmitted light as the result of wavelength-selective absorption. This physical process differs from fluorescence, phosphorescence, and other forms of luminescence, in which a material emits light.

Pigments are used for coloring paint, ink, plastic, fabric, cosmetics, food and other materials. Most pigments used in manufacturing and the visual arts are dry colorants, usually ground into a fine powder. This powder is added to a binder (or vehicle), a relatively neutral or colorless material that suspends the pigment and gives the paint its adhesion.

A distinction is usually made between a pigment, which is insoluble in its vehicle (resulting in a suspension), and a dye, which either is itself a liquid or is soluble in its vehicle (resulting in a solution). A colorant can act as either a pigment or a dye depending on the vehicle involved.

So what does this mean in a practical sense? Take a look at this 5-minute video, and I’ll SHOW you.

Want to see those examples again?

BEFORE

BEFORE

AFTER

AFTER (those freckles were colorburst that floated through the air!)

I’ll take a few more photos after they dry. What do you think?

 

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Chief Craft Test Dummy, Craft Evangelist, Founder, Editor, bottle-washer, trouble-maker, and creative whirlwind.
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  • Creativation 2018: New Product Showcase - January 20, 2018

Posted in Jenny Sez | 6 Comments

Comments

  1. barb macaskill says

    October 5, 2015 at 11:14

    Thank you for this review!!! It helped me decide what to order for watercoloring!! TFS!

  2. Amy says

    October 5, 2015 at 21:54

    Magenta is now carrying a powder, I think it’s a dye. They are called Nuance and my local(ish) scrapbook store just got them in. Bought some Lindys and love them- not sure I need more! Who am I kidding, of course I will buy more..thanks for all your your work.

  3. Nicole says

    October 6, 2015 at 14:37

    Thanks Jenny, very helpful!!

  4. Jenny says

    October 7, 2015 at 18:14

    I just ordered a set to try out! Thanks for the tip.

  5. Olga says

    December 1, 2017 at 03:04

    Hey,
    I was wondering if pigment powders for making paint are the same thing as the one used in nail art? 🙂

  6. Jenny says

    December 1, 2017 at 04:51

    I can’t answer that- I don’t test products in the health/beauty category. Perhaps contact an experienced nail technician to find out.

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Hi! I’m Jenny, the co-host of Hands On Crafts for Kids on PBS and the Head Dummy behind CraftTestDummies.com where you’ll find craft product reviews, tutorials, and craft industry news.

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Jenny Barnett Rohrs is Head Dummy and Pied Piper behind CTD, which focuses on reviews, tutorials, and craft industry news. Jenny has appeared on HSN, Scrapbook Soup PBS series, and is currently the co-host of Hands On Crafts for Kids on PBS.

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