Colour migration

Occasionally dyes penetrate from behind the leather through to the front. These are typically pen markings done on the back of leather to cut them in the right place. The ink goes through the leather and becomes visible on the pigmentation. This can lead to considerable damage.

A red spot on the back of the leather moved through the leather and became visible on furniture leather.

There was a case of a yacht fitted with leather panels over several floors on the floor, the walls and the ceiling. After some time, the dyes of the back markers migrated through the leather. It was a total loss, and the leather had to be completely redone. Leather should only be marked with chalks or silver leather marking pens to avoid such problems.

Colour migration by on the back of leather laminated material

In this case, dark spots were discovered on the white leather of a motorcycle leather suit. A black fabric was glued at the back side of the visible stains. The discolouration was only in areas where the fabric was glued to the leather. Other areas of contact with the fabric were not discoloured, nor areas where other adhesives were used.

Identical cases in car leather lead to the assumption that under unfavourable conditions (laminated fabrics with thermo-active adhesives, fabrics with not completely fixed dyes, possibly moisture of the leather) may lead to a migration of dyes on the visible side of the leather.

Migration of dyes from the back lining of a dark fabric.

In the central region, where the substance is not glued, there is no discolouration.

Colour migration in non-adhered materials on the back

It also happens that strong-marking materials on the back causes stains on the surface by colour migration. Moisture promotes this process. The dye travels through the leather.