What's the difference between a dye & a pigment. Any good online reference on the mfg process for each? Thanks

Answer 1

http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/gen01/gen01703.htm
http://www.handprint.com/HP/WCL/pigmt1d.html

My husband makes pigments for a living. Here's the reader digest condensed version: Pigments are combined with other sticking ingredients to become inks - these inks are used in printing. Dyes do just what they say, dye things. I know this is terribly simplistic, but this is the answer he gave my kiddo a while back, and it works to help people understand. The above links give more about chemical makeup - should help.

Answer 2

A dye is a soluble colour which chemically bonds to a substrate to create an insoluble product - dyes are "reactive".

A pigment is an insoluble colour that is held to the substrate by a separate bonding agent - eg a resin - so most pigments are "unreactive".

Manufacturing processes are diverse - each dye has a separate process as they may be chemically very different and rely on an active site for the chemical bond which may vary with the type of substrate they need to attach to.

Answer 3

pigments are solids and are used *in solution* meaning the grains are not readiy dissolved in liquid, but held in suspension.

dyes are inks that can be readily dissolved due to their smaller grain size.

each has different properties for the printer to consider. dyes result in high quality photo prints but are subject to moisture and the dry time of the ink.

pigments last a long time, dry quickly and are not as subject to moisture.

which do you choose? depends on the application . for most people dye inks are probably the best because they look the best . but in single color runs, pigments would be better.

link below