Evaluating the stability of commercially available artists' coloring materials used to create compensation infills for losses in textiles

When there is a loss in a textile, the response is to prepare a suitable st ructural support. Current connoisseurship trends may require the support to be mor cosmetically integrated than did the aesthetics of a decade ago. Co loring agents, such as permanent inks, hand-applied dyes, fabric paints, an d markers, and methods such as hand-painting and color photocopying are now being explored as alternatives to an overall dyed patch. These present imm ediate results and greater artistic choice, and they allow for precise cont rol. This study attempts to determine some appropriate coloring materials, Initially 29 materials were chosen and subjectively evaluated for their aes thetic qualities based on criteria needed when recreating printed or overal l dyed infills. A printed infill requires fine-line reproduction with no fe athering. An overall dyed patch requires even coverage without stiffness an d smooth texture without thickness. of the 29 original materials, the 10 th at possessed the characteristics needed for both drawing and coverage were then examined to determine their stability and aging characteristics. bleed resistance, wash-fastness, absence of acidic off-gassing, crocking resista nce, and lightfastness were evaluated. No material proved resistant in all testing. The results of this study can be used to select, from those materi als tested, the best colorant for a particular conservation treatment.