TCST Level 6 Dyeing Theory
Part of the suite of courses which make up the ASDC professional qualification and the SDC Certificate of Higher Education.
Start date 08 October 2025
Exam Date week commencing 18 May 2026
Below are a full list of lessons and topics that are covered in this course.
Each lesson and subsequent topics are available from the dates shown to allow you time to complete the lessons.
Take the first lesson, either by clicking on the link below or the list to the right to learn more about how the system works, what help in learning is available and how best to manage your time.
A useful booklet on How to navigate colour network can be downloaded.
The following text books provide both an introduction to the course and provide depth and breadth to the topics taught in single volumes. Extracts from these books will be made available throughout the course to support the videos and transcripts and to provide useful background reading. The links below will take you to the online shop section of the SDC website, where there is an option to purchase. It is recommended that you start the course before deciding whether to purchase any of these books. All necessary book extracts are provided within the learning material (lessons and topics) of the course module.
Physio-chemical aspects of Textile Coloration – Stephen M Burkinshaw, publisher SDC.
Theory of Coloration of Textiles, 2nd Edition – Edited by Alan Johnson. Chapter 4 (Thermodynamics of dye sorption, Harry H. Sumner) and Chapter 5 (Diffusion and rates of dyeing, F. Jones) give a comprehensive account of the essentials of Dyeing Theory.
An Introduction to Textile Coloration: Principles and Practice – Roger H. Wardman, publisher SDC. This book is recommended as a good, accessible overview of the theoretical aspects of dyeing.
Basic Principles of Textile Coloration – Arthur D Broadbent, publisher SDC
This module is part of the suite of modules that make up the TCST (level 6) ASDC by examination. This module is also available as a stand-alone module as part of the SDC Certificate of Higher Education.
This course will cover some of the more important fundamental aspects of physical chemistry in relation to the Theory of Dyeing
The start of this course is the Welcome which will guide you through the development of the Learning Outcomes and the various ways in which you can enhance your learning by navigating the site, how you can manage your time and how to best revise and prepare for examinations.
This course contains scientific content prepared by experts within their specific field and is developed and delivered by Antony Morton for the Society of Dyers and Colourists. Contact antonym@sdc.org.uk
The following publication is available to you to help with some of the specific terms and definitions encountered within coloration industries.
- The SDC publication “Colour terms and definitions”
To fully appreciate the coloration of all textile fibres there is a need to understand the physical, chemical, thermal and optical properties of fibres in general. The following 4 documents provide this background information that you should refer to during your study. These documents are also useful reference material when you are studying the dyeing of natural fibres.
- General Physical and Mechanical properties of Fibres
- Mechanical properties of Fibres
- Thermal properties of Fibres
- Optical properties of Fibres
Extracts from some of the recommended texts as well as articles from Coloration Technology are made available to students in the lessons.
You will see that some of the reading is under the heading “essential” and some of the reading is under the heading “recommended”, or “additional” or “further”. The book chapter excerpts and academic papers that appear under the title “essential” include content that may form at least part of a question(s) within the exam.
In the following lectures, commercial names of dyes, fibres, auxiliaries etc are provided; this does not imply superiority of commercial products but is intended to serve only as a guide. Similarly while aspects relating to application procedures is presented, these are intended as being representative of typical application conditions only and are not intended to be employed for practical dyeing.