Lake is a coloring substance that will not wash out. It is formed by combining mordants with dyestuffs. Mordants are usually metallic salts that change to metallic salts. These react chemically with soluble dyes to form the insoluble, colored lakes. See Mordant .
There are two kinds of lakes. One is produced from natural dyes, and the other is made from coal-tar dyes or other synthetic dyes. Natural lakes include carmine, madder, and the Vienna dyes fixed with aluminum or tin. Carmine lake is prepared from the coloring matter of cochineal insects. It is a beautiful scarlet color. Madder lake is red. It comes from the root of the madder plant. Vienna lake is a violet color and comes from brazilwood. Synthetic dyes can give a much wider range of color. These dyes are produced at a much lower cost. They have almost entirely replaced the natural lakes.
Lakes have many uses. They are used in calico printing, silk dyeing, for decorative work, color printing, and as pigments in paints and lacquers.
