# Dyeing prints with iDye Poly in Isopropyl **URL:** \ **Category:** Projects & Prints\ **Created:** [January 17, 2018, 6:09am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/dyeing-prints-with-idye-poly-in-isopropyl/16871 "2018-01-17T06:09:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FehlbO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@FehlbO](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/FehlbO)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 6:09am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/dyeing-prints-with-idye-poly-in-isopropyl/16871/1 "2018-01-17T06:09:49Z")
Did a few test dyes today on White V4 and Clear V4 with iDye Poly in Red, Black and Green, dissolved in Isopropyl. I ended up leaving them in the solution for around 4hrs. The clear dyed way better than the white, which seemed to be a bit patchy. Would probably be a lot better if the parts were suspended in a jar of the dye rather than sitting in a tray. ![DSC_2722](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/formlabs/original/2X/2/2593f8e180d25b44bbcf970ade131acec7c85c61.JPG) ![DSC_2736](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/formlabs/original/2X/2/248b4c3ff33938035793ec28b1721a636be457ca.JPG) ![DSC_2731](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/formlabs/original/2X/c/cf5fc7647a574b927834370fee3e03e78ffc7387.JPG) ![DSC_2740](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/formlabs/original/2X/b/bb010632c67706601d636cccd19a8bfe32c3f7bb.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![cubo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/cubo/32/10954_2.png) [@cubo](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/cubo)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 8:40pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/dyeing-prints-with-idye-poly-in-isopropyl/16871/2 "2018-01-17T20:40:03Z")
Very interesting! Any changes in properties of the parts after 4 hours in IPA? ---
**Author:** ![FehlbO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@FehlbO](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/FehlbO)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2018, 10:20pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/dyeing-prints-with-idye-poly-in-isopropyl/16871/3 "2018-01-17T22:20:07Z")
Nothing major that I can detect. I accidentally left a large model in IPA over night once and that only softened slightly - nothing gummy or goopy. I could probably try dyeing them in a water solution, but I’ve found with other plastic dyeing that a solvent works best. It would at least take longer to get the same level of dyeing. ---
**Author:** ![mjncad](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/forum.formlabs.com/mjncad/32/8872_2.png) [@mjncad](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/mjncad)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/dyeing-prints-with-idye-poly-in-isopropyl/16871/4 "2018-01-19T21:08:34Z")
Very cool. I use my rafts for testing finishes and solvents. ---
**Author:** ![ben2273](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b4bc9f/32.png) [@ben2273](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/ben2273)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/dyeing-prints-with-idye-poly-in-isopropyl/16871/5 "2018-01-19T22:54:48Z")
fantastic thanks for sharing ---
**Author:** ![C6Systems](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/91b2a8/32.png) [@C6Systems](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/C6Systems)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2018, 12:23am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/dyeing-prints-with-idye-poly-in-isopropyl/16871/6 "2018-01-21T00:23:11Z")
Thank you for sharing, especially with the great photos!. This is what this community is about!. ---
**Author:** ![rencheck1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/57b2e6/32.png) [@rencheck1](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/rencheck1)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2018, 1:38pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/dyeing-prints-with-idye-poly-in-isopropyl/16871/7 "2018-02-08T13:38:01Z")
Did you heat up your IPA prior to mixing in the dye? Or was this done at room temperature. ---
**Author:** ![FehlbO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@FehlbO](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/FehlbO)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 10:14pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/dyeing-prints-with-idye-poly-in-isopropyl/16871/8 "2018-02-11T22:14:28Z")
Just room temp. With solvents I’ve found you don’t need/want to heat it up. If you were dyeing in a water solution then I believe it’s recommended to heat it. ---
**Author:** ![MrCruz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@MrCruz](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/MrCruz)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 3:43am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/dyeing-prints-with-idye-poly-in-isopropyl/16871/9 "2018-02-13T03:43:08Z")
Very nice! When you applied the dyes, were the parts already completely cured, or were the parts dyed, then cured? ---
**Author:** ![FehlbO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@FehlbO](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/FehlbO)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2018, 4:11am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/dyeing-prints-with-idye-poly-in-isopropyl/16871/10 "2018-02-13T04:11:22Z")
This was prior to having a proper curing station so I would say the dyeing was on non-cured parts. ---
**Author:** ![MrCruz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e0b2c6/32.png) [@MrCruz](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/MrCruz)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 3:58am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/dyeing-prints-with-idye-poly-in-isopropyl/16871/11 "2018-02-22T03:58:29Z")
I’m also curious since I’m looking at doing my own experiments. What ratio did you mix the dye with the ipa? 8 grams iDye per 16 oz IPA (\<\<\< wild guess)? Looking for a starting point. ---
**Author:** ![FehlbO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@FehlbO](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/FehlbO)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2018, 6:18am UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/dyeing-prints-with-idye-poly-in-isopropyl/16871/12 "2018-02-22T06:18:23Z")
My ratio was a wild guess. You don’t need much dye though. 8g to 16oz sounds like too much. Start lower (3g?) and see - you can always add more dye to the solution if it doesn’t seem strong enough. ---
**Author:** ![csauve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85e7bf/32.png) [@csauve](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/csauve)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 6:49pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/dyeing-prints-with-idye-poly-in-isopropyl/16871/13 "2019-05-28T18:49:31Z")
Any idea of penetration of the dye? I need to be able to polish the surfaces and keep the color. ---
**Author:** ![FehlbO](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@FehlbO](https://forum.formlabs.com/u/FehlbO)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2019, 11:14pm UTC](https://forum.formlabs.com/t/dyeing-prints-with-idye-poly-in-isopropyl/16871/14 "2019-05-28T23:14:24Z")
Not too sure on that. Could you polish then dye? Maybe re-polish after the dye if needed. That way you would at least be removing the minimal amount of dyed material.