Procion MX dyes, which belong to the dichlorotriazine class of fiber reactive dyes, are the most popular type of dye for hand-dyeing plant fibers, such as cellulose. They can also be used on protein-based fibers. See About Fiber Reactive Dyes. Note that not all suppliers can be listed here. Included are enough major suppliers for you to compare most common names, since several suppliers use similar names.
Procion MX colors without MX codes are mixed by the supplier. The ones that have MX codes may be either pure colors, or mixtures prepared by the manufacturer. Be sure that your dye source tells you the MX codes or Colour Index names for those of the Procion MX dyes they sell that have them. (Some suppliers include this info in their printed catalogs, but not their on-line catalogs - be sure to request a printed catalog!)
These are wide tables! Please use a small font size and use landscape, not portrait, mode, to print, if necessary. Or download a [out of date] printable PDF version of Table 1 below.
If a Procion MX dye color name does not appear in Table 1, it is probably not a pure single-hue dye color, unless it is incorrect; either it is listed under a different MX code, or it is a premixed color, not a true single-hue dye, and is listed on Table 2, Table 3, or Table 4, below.
CODE | Colour Index reactive dye name | Dharma's name | PROchem's name | Custom's name | G&S Dye's name | George Weil's name |
Standard's name |
Kraft kolour |
Aljo Mfg. Co.'s name | Jacquard Products | Patchwork Shop.de |
notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
yellow MX-8G | yellow 86 | #1 lemon yellow | #108 sun yellow | #104 yellow MX-8G | 208 bright yellow | - | yellow MX-8G | Yellow MX8G | #3 lemon yellow | 004 lemon yellow | Zitronengelb | pure; good yellow primary for mixing colors | |
yellow MX-4G | yellow 22 | - | #114 lemon yellow | - | 214 yellow | M01 lemon yellow | yellow MX-4G | Yellow MX4G | #10 pure yellow | - | pure | ||
yellow MX-GR | yellow 7 | #3 golden yellow | #112 tangerine yellow | - | - | - | yellow MX-GR | - | - | being replaced by mixtures? | |||
yellow MX-RA | yellow 44 | -- | - | - | - | - | - | Yellow MXRA | - | - | pure | ||
yellow MX-3R | orange 86 | #4 deep yellow | - | #107 yellow MX-3R | - | M02 golden yellow | - | Yellow MX3R | - | Gelborange | pure; same dye molecule as yellow MX-3RA | ||
yellow MX-3RA | orange 86 | - | #104 golden yellow | - | 204 golden yellow | - | yellow MX-3RA | - | 010 bright golden yellow | pure; denser than 3R | |||
orange MX-G | orange 1 | - | - | - | - | - | orange MX-G | - | - | - | - | pure, clear orange | |
orange MX-2R | orange 4 | #6 deep orange | #202 strong orange | #201 orange MX-2R | 302 orange | M04 brilliant orange | yellow MX-2R | Orange MX2R | #1 orange | 020 brilliant orange | Orange | pure, slightly reddish orange; great for mixing with magenta for a true red | |
brown MX-GRN | brown 23 | - | (#515 burnt orange) | - | (615 brown) | (M03 rust orange) | - | - | (016 rust orange) | (Terrakottabraun) | apparently replaced by mixtures. dull brownish orange good for mixing dark shades | ||
brown MX-5BR | brown 10 | -- | - | - | - | - | - | Brown MX5BR | (formerly brown rose) | - | pure from Kraftkolour; elsewhere mixture often substituted | ||
scarlet MX-G | red 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | no retail source known | |
red MX-G | red 5 | - | - | - | - | M05 orange scarlet | reactive red #5 | (mix) | - | pure; not worth the expense; mixes often carry the same MX code | |||
rubine MX-B | red 6 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | cerise | - | - | pure; sold by Grateful Dyes as their #14 Cherry or inquire at Aljo Mfg. | |
red MX-5B | red 2 | #12 light red | #305 mixing red | #310 red MX-5B | 405 hot pink | M07 brilliant pink | red MX-5B | Red MX5B | 034 magenta | Magenta | pure; good magenta for use as primary color | ||
red MX-8B | red 11 | #13 fuchsia red | #308 fuchsia | #304 red MX-8B | 408 fuchsia | M08 vibrant magenta | red MX-8B | Red MX8B | #4 rose red | 040 fuchsia | Pinkrot | pure; good magenta for use as primary color | |
magenta MX-B | reactive violet #13 | - | boysenberry or violet MX-BR | - | - | - | - | Magenta MXB | - | - | - | pure; Colour Index name is only my best guess so far | |
violet MX-2R | reactive violet #14 | #117 grape | grape 801 or violet MX-GN | violet MX-G? | 415 Raspberry | - | violet 14 or violet MX-G | Violet MXRA | 231 violet | - | pure; note that the name violet MX-G is incorrect though widely used! Custom Colours Violet MX-G is Standard's Permabril Violet C-G, not certain it is reactive violet 14 | ||
blue MX-7RX | blue #161 | - | - | - | - | cobalt blue (no code) | - | - | no more | - | Blauviolett | pure; lovely but not lightfast. In the US, inquire at Aljo Mfg. | |
blue MX-R | blue 4 | #26 sky blue | #400 basic blue | #416 blue MX-2R | 500 royal blue | M22 royal blue | blue MX-R | Blue MXR | #12 ultra-blue | 072 medium blue | pure, slightly reddish, somewhat dull blue. Note difference in Custom Colours' MX code | ||
blue MX-2R | blue 84 | - | - | - | - | - | - | Deep Blue MX2R | - | formazan chromophore (I haven't seen this one yet) | |||
blue MX-G | blue 163 | cerulean blue | #406 intense blue | #406 Blue MX-G | 506 Cerulean Blue | M50 cerulean blue | blue MX-G | Blue MXG | #27 peacock blue | 070 cerulean blue | Primärblau | pure, good mixing primary, slightly greenish blue | |
navy MX-3R | blue 9 | - | - | #405 navy MX-4G | - | - | blue #9 (green shade) or navy MX-G | Navy MX3R | - | pure, slightly greenish dark navy; note difference in Custom Colours' MX code | |||
blue MX-2G | blue 109 | #22 cobalt blue | #402c mixing blue | #415 blue MX-2G | 502 slate blue | M21 indigo navy | - | Blue MX2G | #6986 navy | 076 cobalt blue 150% | pure, greenish dark navy; greener than cobalt blue glass | ||
blue MX-4GD | blue #168 | - | #414 deep navy | - | - | - | - | Blue MX4GD | Aljo carries it | - | Dunkelblau (kalt) | pure, greenish navy | |
blue MX-3G | blue 1 | - | - | - | - | - | - | turquoise #2 | - | pure; hard to find | |||
turquoise MX-G | blue 140 | #25 turquoise | #410 turquoise | #407 Turquoise MX-G | 510 turquoise | M20 brilliant turquoise | turquoise MX-G | Turquoise MXG | #20 brilliant turquoise | 068 turquoise | Türkisblau | pure; the best equivalent to cyan as a primary |
Table 2. Manufacturers' mixtures of dichlorotriazine dyes with MX codes | ||||||||||||
Even though the colors listed below have MX codes, they are not pure single-hue dyes, but instead mixtures of two or more other dyes. These mixtures are usually identical even when obtained from different suppliers. | ||||||||||||
CODE | Colour Index reactive dye # | Dharma's name | PROchem's name | Earth Guild's name | G&S Dye's name | George Weil's name | Standard Dye Co.'s name | Aljo | Jacquard Products | Patchwork Shop.de | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
red MX-BRA | - | #9 scarlet | 300 scarlet | - | 400 scarlet | - | Scarlet MX-BRA | 030 fire engine red | mixture of red MX-5B and orange MX-2R | |||
red MX-GBA | - | #10a chinese red | #312 strongest red | warm red | 412 red | - | Red MX-GBA | mixture | ||||
navy MX-G "red shade" or navy MX-4R | blue 9 "red shade" | 130 Strong Navy | - | - | - | blue #9 (red shade) | navy 078 | Standard Dye mixture of blue #9 plus red MX-5B | ||||
blue MX-4RD | - | #24 navy blue | - | - | replaced by equivalent mix 512 navy | - | - | marineblau | mixture | |||
green MX-CBA | - | - | - | forest green | replaced by equivalent mix 800 dark green | - | - | - | 086 forest green | - | mixture | |
black MX-CWNA | - | #300 new black now replaced by similar mix with same name | #608 black was temporarily replaced by black #609 | - | replaced by equivalent mix 708N black | - | - | 128 warm black | mixture | |||
black MX-CWA | - | - | - | black | 702 cotton black | - | - | Schwarz 602A | mixture |
Table 3. Formerly pure dichlorotriazine dyes with MX codes, now replaced with mixtures | ||||||||||||
Even though the colors listed below have MX codes, they are not pure single-hue dyes, but instead mixtures of two or more other dyes. Do not expect these mixtures to be the same from one supplier to the next. | ||||||||||||
CODE | Colour Index reactive dye # | Dharma's name | PROchem's name | Earth Guild's name | G&S Dye's name | George Weil's name | Standard Dye Co.'s name | Aljo | Jacquard Products | Patchwork Shop.de | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
brown MX-5BR | formerly brown 10 | #36 maroon brown | #505 reddish brown | 605 red brown | M29 red brown | brown MX-5BR | 126 brown rose | discontinued by manufacturer, replaced by mixtures | ||||
rubine MX-BA | formerly red 6 | - | - | - | - | - | Kraftkolour mixture replaced rubine MX-B | |||||
red MX-6BDA | brown 40 | - | former #316 burgundy | - | - | replaced by mix 416 burgundy | - | - | discontinued | |||
red MX-3G | formerly ? | - | - | - | - | M06 scarlet | - | - | mixture | |||
blue MX-3G | formerly blue 1 | - | - | - | - | M26 brilliant blue | - | - | mix replaced blue #1 pure blue 1 still available elsewhere perhaps | |||
green MX-3G | formerly green 6 | - | - | - | - | M23 bottle green | - | mix replaced green# 6 |
Table 4. Mixtures of dichlorotriazine dyes that have been given non-standard MX codes | |||
Even though the colors listed below have MX codes, they are not pure single-hue dyes, but instead mixtures of two or more other dyes. In some cases, pure single-hue dyes are also available elsewhere under the same code. Be sure to check with your supplier if necessary to specify which you want. Some suppliers, such as Standard, have been known to substitute similar-hued mixtures freely even when a unmixed dye has been ordered by MX code; if this is not acceptable to you, be specific when you order. | |||
Procion MX type code | other names | Retailer who sells it | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
scarlet MX-BA | 028 bright scarlet | Jacquard Products | mixture |
scarlet MX-GR | Scarlet MXGR | Kraftkolour | mixture |
red MX-BA | 032 carmine red | Jacquard Products | mixture |
red MX-6BDA ? | 416 burgundy | George Weil | mixture |
red MX-3G | M06 scarlet | George Weil | mixture |
red MX-BG | Red MXBG | Kraftkolour | mixture |
red MX-G | Red MXG | Kraftkolour | mixture |
rubine MX-BA | Rubine MXBA | Kraftkolour | mixture |
violet MX-DP | violet MX-DP | Standard Dye | mixture |
violet MX-2B | Violet MX2B | Kraftkolour | mixture |
blue MX-3G | M26 brilliant blue | George Weil | mixture |
blue MX-3R | Blue MX3R | Kraftkolour | mixture (not to be confused with Navy MX3R) |
navy MX-KB | Standard Dye | mixture | |
navy MX-3R | blue #9 (red shade) | Standard Dye | mixture |
green MX-BD | Green MXBD | Kraftkolour | mixture |
lime green MX-G | Lime Green MXG | Kraftkolour | mixture |
green MX-G | Green MXG | Kraftkolour | mixture |
green MX-G | M25 brilliant emerald | George Weil | mixture |
green MX-3G | Green MX3G | Kraftkolour | mixture |
green MX-CG | Standard Dye | mixture | |
green MX-EG | Standard Dye | mixture | |
green MX-3G | M23 bottle green | George Weil | mixture |
green MX-7B | Green MX7B | Kraftkolour | mixture |
olive MX-GD | Kraftkolour | mixture | |
olive MX-G | M28 olive | George Weil | mixture |
choc brown MX-2B | Choc Brown MX2B | Kraftkolour | mixture |
brown MX-2GA | Kraftkolour | mixture | |
brown MX-3G | M27 dark brown | George Weil | mixture |
brown MX-2GA | Brown MX2GA | Kraftkolour | mixture |
brown MX-2R | Kraftkolour | mixture | |
brown MX-2RA | Brown MX2RA | Kraftkolour | mixture |
grey MX-B | Grey MXB | Kraftkolour | mixture |
black MX-2R | Kraftkolour | mixture | |
black MX-K | M30 black | George Weil | mixture |
black MX-TDN | Standard Dye | mixture | |
black MX-2R | Black MX2R | Kraftkolour | mixture |
black MX-G | Black MXG | Kraftkolour | mixture |
Black GR 200% | Kraftkolour | hot reactive not Procion td> |
If your Procion MX supplier is one of the ones listed, but you cannot find your dye color in one of the above tables, then you can safely assume that it is a proprietary mixture and not directly equivalent to any dye available anywhere else.
Many more dichlorotriazine dyes exist in the Procion line, but not all are under commercial productions. It seems that there are also some that are manufactured currently, but which do not happen to be supplied to any of the distributers that supply dyes in small enough quantities for a single individual to use.
See also Are there any
Procion MX dyes that are not available to home dyers? and What other brand names
are Procion MX type dyes sold under?.
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Last updated: February 24, 2015
Page created: Sept. 22, 1999
downloaded: Sunday, November 10, 2024
citation: Burch, Paula E. "Which Procion MX Colors Are Pure, and Which Mixtures?" Paula Burch's All About Hand Dyeing. 19 Sept. 2011. Web. <http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/FAQ/pureMXcolors.shtml>.