Adding color to a leather hide with dye and pigment can add more dimension to whatever product the leather is being used for. Basically, any type of hide can be dyed, full-grain, top grain, nubuck, suede can all be given whatever color treatment the producer wishes.
The best quality of leather hides, those to be used in more expensive items, are generally colored using Aniline Dyes. These dyes are received by the hides in a dye bath, the duration of which will determine the intensity of the color. Aniline Dye will penetrate through the entire hide, it is not a surface coloration, and the number of dye colors available ranges into the hundreds.
Very often, the hide that has been dyed by Aniline Dye will merely receive a light coating of wax by way of finishing. Aniline Dyes are transparent, so any irregularity will show through after the dye bath is finished. This is usually thought to be desirable, the flaws that might show up on upholstery will be considered individual and unique. This type of dye is often used with full-grain hides.
Sometimes, even when a hide has been Aniline Dyed, a pigment will be applied to the surface. This will conceal any defects or uneven coloring on the leather, and a clear coating is generally applied afterwards to protect the integrity of the pigment. An even color will be produced by the use of pigments. Some manufacturers will only use pigment on a leather hide, there will be no preliminary dye bath, so all the color is only on the surface. This is used in less expensive items, and in time the pigment can flake or wear off to expose the underlying color of the leather.
The process of creating Semi-Aniline Leather is somewhat like the process described just above, the leather is completely dyed, but instead of pigment being applied heavily, to mask the surface of the hide, only a light coating is used. This coating of pigment will not totally obscure the imperfections the hide might have, but will tone them down, and make the surface more homogeneous. A clear coating will be applied with this process, too, and the hides so treated will have increased durability. They will also resist fading and staining more easily than hides that have only received a dye bath.
A hide can be antiqued by using several colors of dye. After dying the hide one color, it will be given a second bath, generally not as long, to create a look of age. Highlights are often created by this process, giving a bit more depth to the hide.
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