Leather dying is a process that usually involves use of spirit or alcohol based dyes where alcohol quickly gets absorbed into moistened leather, carrying the pigment deep into the surface. Hi-liters and antiquing stains are also used to add more definition to patterns. These have pigments that will break away from the higher points of a tooled piece and so pooling in the background areas give nice contrasts. Leaving parts unstained also provides a type of contrast.

Alternatives to spirit stains might include a number of options. Shoe polish could be used to dye and preserve leather. Oils or linseed, can be applied to preserve leather but it darkens them. The red, brown, and black tones develop naturally as the oiled leathers absorb the rays of the desert sun. There are several types of finishes like solid color, two-tones, metallic, transparent, semi-aniline or hybrid, Wax & Oil Finishes etc.