Running Shade in Knit Dyeing: Causes and Solutions

What is Running Shade?
Running shade is a dyeing defect in knit fabric where color changes from meter to meter. It happens when dye is not distributed or fixed evenly in the fabric. This leads to inconsistent shade and poor fabric quality. It also increases reprocessing time and cost.

Picture: Fabric Running Shade


Major Impacts of Running Shade
- Extra re-dyeing or reprocessing cost  
- Delay in production and delivery  
- Poor fabric appearance and quality  
- Variation in GSM and fabric strength  
- Hairy fabric surface after reprocessing  

10 Causes of Running Shade
1. Wrong combination of dyes  
2. Improper dyeing process sequence  
3. Incorrect salt and alkali dosing  
4. Low quality chemicals used in bath  
5. High or uncontrolled pH level  
6. Poor fabric pre-treatment  
7. No or poor leveling agent use  
8. Poor water quality or hardness issue  
9. Operator mistake in machine operation  
10. Improper after-treatment process  

10 Remedies of Running Shade
1. Use dyes with similar behavior in fixation and exhaustion  
2. Follow standard dyeing process properly  
3. Maintain correct salt and alkali amount  
4. Use good quality chemicals only  
5. Control pH level properly (avoid above 9.9)  
6. Ensure proper fabric pre-treatment  
7. Use good leveling agents for uniform dyeing  
8. Maintain good water quality (below 40 ppm hardness)  
9. Train operators for correct process handling  
10. Apply proper after-treatment like soaping and softening  

Final Note
Running shade can be controlled by maintaining proper process control, correct chemical use, and skilled operation. A standard system helps ensure uniform dyeing and better fabric quality.