MAPC 2022 Demo Outline
Margot Stroop

Dye Monoprints

This presentation demonstrates how to use fiber-reactive dye in conjunction with blank screens and various print bases to create mono prints and monotypes on papers and fabrics.

Fiber-reactive dyes molecularly bond with plant-based fibers, creating colorfast vibrant hues. They are formulated to be used on cellulose fibers: cotton, linen, hemp, rayon and Tencel. They can also be used with variable success on some protein fibers such as silk and wool. Pre-treatment or heat setting is possible if the printed piece is to be soaked or laundered for subsequent project development.

There are many advantages to using the powdered dye in the studio: affordability, permanence, strong pigmentation, easy cleanup, wide variety of colors available. When used instead of traditional water-based inks in fabric printing, they do not interfere with the hand of the fiber because they soak in instead of sitting on the surface. The mono printing techniques we’ll try today can also be easily combined with other print techniques.

Materials used in this demo

Blank Screens in various mesh sizes
Pre-mixed Procion Fiber-Reactive Dyes
Print Bases (Speedball, Golden, Permaset and Superclear)
Cotton Papers (BFK and Johannot)
Pre-prepared PFD Cotton Fabrics (Kona and Pimatex)

Steps

A. Mix the dye powder with water safely 24 hours in advance

B. Pre-treat fabric 24 hours in advance
1. Mix 1/4 cup alum to 1 gallon of hot water and dissolve thoroughly
2. Soak fabric for at least 30 minutes and no more than 24 hours
3. Hang flat to dry without rinsing, ringing or ironing

C. Pre-treat Paper the same day as printing (if you’re planning to soak it later)
Soak cotton rag paper at least 30 minutes in the alum mixture above. Use a photo tray or a paper tray to soak the paper through. Dry on a line or a rack.

If you don’t plan to soak your paper prints for another process such as etching, don’t worry about pre-treating papers before printing the dyes.

Identify the potential variables in the materials you will use; understand the inherent property of each material: Mesh count, print material, print base, print surface, etc.

D. Dye Application: prop the screen up on one edge, and work on the front of the screen. Use various tools to make a design and apply multiple colors. Any application tool is possible, as long as it doesn’t damage the screen

E. Print onto paper or fabric with the screen base of your choice. Experiment with multiple passes and pressure to achieve your own desired results. Depending on dye application layers on the screen, up to 3-4 prints can be achieved with each dye application.

Suppliers

Dharma Trading Company https://www.dharmatrading.com/
Prochemical https://prochemicalanddye.net/
Talas https://www.talasonline.com/
Maiwa https://maiwa.com
Permaset permaset.com