Dye

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v50.14 · v0.47.05 This article is about the current version of DF. Note that some content may still need to be updated. More Info · V

Dye can be used at the dyer's shop to change the color of cloth or thread.

Dye is made by milling certain plants at a millstone or quern. Usually all caravans will bring dye for trade too. Importing dye, however, is only useful if you have a somewhat skilled dyer, otherwise little value is added and the work wasted. It is better to buy or grow the 'source' plants if available and mill them yourself. Of course, the nice colours are a value in themselves, if you don't stuff it all in bins.

On the stocks screen, dyes are listed under powder. Dyes are stockpiled as "Food/Milled Plants", along with flours. Barrels that contain only powders are called 'Mill barrel'. Each barrel can contain up to 60 dye bags, each bag containing one stack of dye items. Bag contents are not recognized in the manager's work order conditions. As a workaround, referencing the dye bags is advised: item type 'items', material type 'no material', trait 'dye item'. It will now count all stacks of dye.

Using material 'Dimple dye', 'Emerald dye', 'Redroot dye', 'Sliver dye' will not work.

In theory, dyed objects can be colors other than the basic 16. However, the game displays them using the basic color that is the nearest match (dimple dye is (dark) blue, and emerald dye is light green).

Plant	Dye	Color		Crop type	Value
Dimple cup	Dimple Dye	Midnight Blue		Underground	20☼
Blade weed	Emerald Dye	Emerald		Aboveground	20☼
Hide root	Redroot Dye	Red		Aboveground	10☼
Sliver barb	Sliver Dye	Black		Aboveground	20☼

Dyes can be applied either to woven cloth or to the raw thread. Dyed items have their value increased by value of the dye (see table above), multiplied by quality with which the dye was applied. There is not known to be any difference in the end product based on when the dye was applied during the production process. Dyes can't be applied to finished goods made from cloth, such as clothing, bags, or crafts.

Midnight Blue dye powder.

See also

• Textile industry

"Dye" in other Languages Dwarven: atír Elven: afithi Goblin: osmu Human: asseg

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