Hey-

I've heard of a lot of people who bought acid dye from Skinboat School having a similar problem. Their lack of response isn't atypical, either. I'd rather order from a dye manufacturer, that way you know for sure what you're getting and have a support structure to stand behind you if you have any problems.

I used Jacquard. They aren't the only manufacturers of acid dyes, but I called a friend who is a fiber artist and she recommended them to me. I used a combination of four colors dabbed on from lightest to darkest using a natural sponge to give it a mottled "skin-like" appearance. Doing it this way also helps to ensure that you don't get too much dye on, which can cause the coating to delaminate. It's just like they do in the "faux painting" booklets they have at the big box home stores.

If you're concerned about the technique of applying the acid dye to the stretched nylon skin instead of dyeing the entire bolt in a big vat before you stretch it you can check the user forums on the Jacquard web site. Directly applying the dye isn't a "manufacturer sanctioned" application procedure, but a lot of people do it this way and you'll find info on the forum to back it up. I don't know if it would work the same on natural fibers with their natural fiber dyes, you'd have to check.

Have you looked at Harvey Golden's web site? He uses Zar tinted with powdered earth pigments. Most people who use dye are using SBS Goop because you can't tint Goop. The former is more opaque than the latter.

I'm incredibly lazy about setting up and using a photo-sharing account, which was one of the things I planned to do during the new year, but it's still only the first week, and I've been REALLY sick... But if you go to the Qajaq USA web site's "friends" map there's a thumbnail of my SOF there so you can see the skin if you're into it.

m