What is the difference between dyes and pigments?
A. Dyes, also known as colorants in which the coloring matter is dissolved in liquid, are absorbed into the material to which they are applied. Pigments, on the other hand, consist of extremely fine particles of ground coloring matter suspended in liquid which forms a paint film that actually bonds to the surface it is applied to. It has always been the accepted belief that pigments are more lightfast than dyes, but the introduction of synthetic paints has done much to improve the lightfastness of dyes and inks, as well as pigments.
A. Dyes, colorants in which the coloring matter is dissolved in liquid, are absorbed into the material to which they are applied. Pigments, consisting of extremely fine particles of ground coloring matter suspended in liquid, form a paint film that is bonded to the surface it is applied to. Dyes are sometimes precipitated onto an inert base and ground into pigments. Traditionally pigments have been more lightfast than dyes, but the advent of synthetic paints has seen much improvement in the lightfastness of dyes and inks, as well as pigments.
