From Hex to Hue: My Precision Dyeing Ritual
My Precision Dyeing Ritual (100g Yarn, 1% DOS)
Precision dyeing a blend of chemistry and math that ensures every skein sings the same note, batch after batch. Let me show you how it works, using hex code #FF6F61.
1. Decode the Digital Color
I start by converting the hex code into CMYK and saturation and lightness values using a color converter like www.color-hex.com.
CMYK: C: 0, M: 56, Y: 61, K: 0
Saturation: 100%, Lightness: 70%
These numbers are my roadmap. The CMYK tells me how much of each dye to use, and the saturation and lightness helps me adjust for brightness and intensity.
2. Normalize the CMYK Ratios
To mix dyes proportionally, I normalize the CMYK values by adding them up and then divide each by the total.
CMYK = 0 + 56 + 61 + 0 = 117
M = 56 / 117 ≈ 47.86%
Y= 61 / 117 ≈ 52.14%
These percentages become my base dye ratios.
3. Remove the Lightness
Lightness represents how much of the color is “white space.” I subtract it from 100% to find the actual dye load:
100% - 70% = 30% dye load
Only 30% of the color is pigment and the rest is brightness.
4. Apply Saturation
Saturation tells me how vivid the color is. I multiply the dye load by saturation to get the effective dye strength:
30% × 100% = 30%
This gives me the true pigment intensity I’ll scale my recipe to.
5. Scale to Fiber Weight (100g Yarn, 1% DOS)
Let’s say I’m dyeing 100g of yarn at 1% depth of shade (DOS):
Total dye weight = 100g × 1% = 1.0g
Effective dye weight based on saturation = 1.0g × 30% = 0.3g
Now I distribute that 0.3g across my CMYK proportions:
Magenta = 47.86% of 0.3g ≈ 0.14g
Yellow = 52.14% of 0.3g ≈ 0.16g
Undyed:
14g Magenta 1% dye stock:
16g Yellow 1% dye stock
After washing and drying!
That's it! Simple, right?! ;)
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