Tintes

Tintes are substances used to impart color to materials or objects. In common usage, they refer to dyeing agents that are soluble in the medium and form chemical bonds with the substrate, in contrast to pigments, which are insoluble particles. Tintes can be natural or synthetic and are employed across textiles, paper, cosmetics, food, plastics, and art.

Natural dyes have been used since ancient times and are obtained from plants, minerals, and insects, such as indigo, madder, cochineal, and turmeric. They often require mordants to improve colorfastness. Synthetic dyes emerged in the 19th century and greatly expanded color possibilities; modern dyes include azo, anthraquinone, and vat families, with classes designed for specific substrates (fiber-reactive dyes for cotton, acid dyes for protein fibers, disperse dyes for synthetic fibers).

Applications include textile dyeing, which remains the largest consumer, as well as hair dyes, food colorants, printing inks, and cosmetic products. Dyeing methods range from bath dyeing and printing to coating, with colorfastness, lightfastness, and washfastness as key performance criteria.

Safety and regulation: Dyes are subject to safety and environmental rules. In many regions, colors intended for food or cosmetics require regulatory approval and labeling, and manufacturing is subject to controls on effluents and worker exposure. Environmental and sustainability concerns drive research into natural dyes and greener production processes.