How can I keep my batiks made with Rit dye from fading the way my first one did?

Name: Kap

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Country or Region: Austin, Texas

Message: I haven't made a batik since the mid 70's. I've attached a picture of the one I made this past weekend. Would you happen to know if there is something I can spray this with to keep it from fading like the one from 1974? This one use to be so pretty---now you can't even tell that it was dyed--- it's all blended together. Thank you for your time!

What kinds of dyes did you use? And, was the batik ever washed, or was the fading completely due to light?

The one from HS--- I'm sure it faded from light through the years....never washed. Both were made from RIT dye--- I just wonder if there's something to spray on the new one to save it.

I'm sorry about the Rit all-purpose dye. Sadly, it is not a very good choice for batik. Some of the dyes it contains are reasonably light-fast, but some are very poorly lightfast and will fade quickly. All-purpose dyes are also known for bleeding together badly when they get wet, especially if the dyes were used at room temperature.

What you can do with the batiks you've already made is protect them from both light and air. When no one is looking at the batiks, it is best to store them in a dark place, such as a drawer, ideally wrapped in acid-free paper. If you must display them, try to choose a place away from bright light or direct sunlight. You should frame them behind ultraviolet-filtering glass, and expose them to as little light as possible.

Unfortunately, filtering out ultraviolet light will not stop all of the light-induced fading from occurring. Even visible light will cause some fading, especially in the presence of the oxygen in the air. When light of any wavelength is absorbed by the dye in a fabric, some of the energy actually breaks apart the dye molecules. (I studied this topic, known as the photodynamic effect, in my PhD thesis research.)

Fabric treatment sprays are as likely to increase light-fading as they are to decrease it. Never use any fabric treatment that is claimed to protect against fading, unless you have tested it with the very same dyes that you're planning to use, to see whether it provides any real protection. In some cases, an ultraviolet-absorbing chemical actually absorbs more energy from the light, passing it on the the dye molecules and causing them to be destroyed more quickly. When, for a science fair project, my son tested a supposed ultraviolet protectant spray on two dyes, he found that it actually increased light damage considerably. There is more information on lightfastness and on treatments intended to minimize it on my page, "Lightfastness of Different Types of Dyes".

To test a fabric treatment or spray, dye a scrap of similar fabric with the same dyes, using the same methods as before, then cut the rag into three pieces. One should go into a dark place, shut away in a box or drawer, one should get the treatment, one should go untreated, and the the treated and untreated pieces should be exposed to bright sunlight in a sunny window for a few weeks, or placed outside, weighted down so the wind will not blow it away. (See my son's science fair project on the Dye Forum, under "ultraviolet protection of dyes".)

Now, for the batiks that you will create in the future, I would like to suggest that you use better materials. The best dye for batiking cotton, or other cellulose fibers such as rayon, is a cool water fiber reactive dye, Procion MX dye. This is the same type of dye that is found in all of the best tie-dyeing kits; if you have difficulty finding these dyes locally, you can always mail-order from a good dye supplier. Dark colors last longer then paler colors, since they are made with a larger number of dye molecules. The Procion dyes form a permanent bond to the fabric, so it is safe to wash the batik after it has been completed. This permanent bonding means that you can safely rinse out any excess unattached dye; this is important because unattached dye is more vulnerable to damage from light.

I would be happy to help with any questions you may have when you switch to the better dyes for your batik projects. You can also join the Dye Forum Community of Dyers, which is a wonderful free resource for information and support. Here's a link to my page on How to Batik, to get you started with the new dyes.

(Please help support this web site. Thank you.)

Posted: Wednesday - March 02, 2011 at 08:41 AM

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How can I keep my batiks made with Rit dye from fading the way my first one did?

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