Types of Synthetic Dyes:

• Acid Dyes comes in a wide variety of colors, it is fairly fast to light and to washing. It is named acid dyes because they work best when applied in an acid bath. It is mainly used on nylon, silk and wool.
• Azoic (or Naphthol) Dyes this type of dyes are extremely fast to light, it is commonly used to dye a material red, orange or maroon. It is mainly used in cotton.
• Basic Dyes this type of dye is just fair when it comes to fastness to light and to washing, however this type can create a brilliant color. It is mainly used on natural and acrylic fibers, it is also sometimes used for wool and silk. This dye is also used to color paper. Acetic acid is usually added to the dyebath to help in the quick penetration of the dye onto the fiber.
• Chrome (or Mordant) Dyes this type of dye is fairly fast to light and to washing, it is especially useful for black and navy shades. The choice of mordant is very important as different mordants can alter the final color significantly, it is important to know also that many mordants, particularly those in the hard metal category can be hazardous to health, that is why caution should be followed when using it. It is mainly used for wool and silk.

Mordant is a chemical that is mixed with the dye and the fiber, the modern mordants are dichromates and chromium complexes, that is why it is also called chrome dye.

• Developed (or Diazo) Dyes are used to treat certain dyed fabrics to improve their fastness to light and to washing and also to change fabric's color. The treatment are used primarily on cotton. Diazotizing is the treatment which involves the use of chemical called a developer. It is mainly used on cotton.
• Direct Dyes this type is one of the easiest to use and has a wide range of colors, it is not fast to washing, but its fastness is often improved by more treatment. It is mainly used on cotton, rayon leather, wool, silk and nylon. It is also used as pH indicators and as biological stains.
• Disperse (or Acetate) Dyes this dyes is finely ground in the presence of dispersing agent, its dyeing rate is greatly influenced by the dispersing agent used during the grinding. Disperse dyes were developed because other dyes would not work with acetate it is also used on different manmade fibers, including acrylic, acetate, and polyester fibers.

• Reactive (or Fiber-reactive) Dyes this type of dye have a good fastness to light and to washing. Reactive dyes create a strong chemical bonds with the material being dyed which makes it the most permanent of dyes, this dye is by far the best choice for dyeing cotton, nylon, wool and other cellulose fibers at home or in the art studio.
• Sulphur Dyes this dye are especially fast to washing and if the best for material that is washed frequently. Sulphur dyes are colorless(upon application), but upon exposure to air they are oxidized a d turn into their respective colors. They come mainly in dark, dull colors and used on cotton, linen and rayon.

• Vat Dyes this type is superior compared to the other dye when it comes to its fastness to light and to washing. Vat dyes like sulphur dyes must be oxidized before their real color comes out. This dye is mainly used for cotton, linen, wool and silk. The indigo color of blue jeans is vat dye.

Raw fibers are generally dyed by the dipping process. They are placed in a perforated metal cylinder that is dipped into a vat full of dye.

Velour cloth and furs are often hand-dyed. The dye is applied with a brush that has been dipped in a dye solution.

Batik is an ancient method of applying colored dyes to fabrics, usually cotton and silk. It originates in Java and now widely used throughout the world.

Tie dyeing, a hand-dyeing technique often practiced as a craft, can be used to create multi-colored patterns.