When I first saw how dyed items were created in this game, I was very excited. Unfortunately, the dyeing system has turned out to be more of a club to restrict item creation than it is a tool to open up creatively colored gear.

Here is an exampling, using the case of velveteen robes.Velveteen robes are velveteen cloth, with an underpanel of cotton and buffalo leather shoulders. (am ignoring the brass ornament and straps on sleeves for simplicity)


There are four velveteen dyes, plus undyed velveteen.
There are four cotton dyes, plus undyed cotton cloth.
There are six buffalo leather dyes, plus undyed buffalo leather.

If a crafter could freely mix and match these colors, there would be an astounding 5 x 5 x 7 = 175 different color combinations for velveteen robes. Instead, we are straitjacketed into only five. This is an incredible disappointment to me.

I hope that one day SE will unlock all of these combinations and allow crafters to express some creativity.

In response to the OP topic regarding dyeing items after they are created, I think that allowing basic overall re-dyes after the fact would be great. More detailed colorings could be reserved for an unlocked system as above. If SE plans to maintain the item coloring as a restriction, then I vote that we just switch to dyeing after the fact instead.