ABSTRACT
This chapter explains that the colouration of textiles is through a process known as dyeing. It is explained how techniques may differ from one situation to another, and that different fibres accept different dyes. The objectives are to ensure that the dyed colour is even (or level) and has a high degree of permanence (or should be fast) to its anticipated environment. The approaches to achieving this are explained. A wide variety of dyestuffs, techniques and machinery is identified and it is explained that in the early-twenty-first century, the vast bulk of the textile industry globally was using synthetic dyestuffs, and that practical knowledge of natural dyestuffs and their application was largely lost. The principal dye classes and the types of machinery used are identified and an outline is presented of the procedures necessary in the colouration of textiles, including various forms of printing. The main classes of dyes are identified and the role of mordants is outlined. Brief explanations are presented of the nature of digital printing of textiles. Relevant literature is identified throughout.
