Udayi yinto enombala ehambisana ne-substrate esetshenziswa kuyo.Udayi ngokuvamile usetshenziswa kwisisombululo esinamanzi, futhi udinga i-mordant ukuze uthuthukise ukushesha kwedayi ku-fiber.

Kokubili odayi nama-pigments kubonakala kunemibala ngoba amunca amaza okukhanya athile kakhulu kunabanye.Ngokungafani nodayi, ngokuvamile i-pigment ayincibiliki, futhi ayinakho ukuhambisana ne-substrate.Abanye odayi bangancibilika ngosawoti ongenayo ukuze kukhiqizwe umbala wechibi, futhi ngokusekelwe kusawoti osetshenziswayo kungaba ichibi le-aluminium, ichibi le-calcium noma izingulube zechibi le-barium.

Kutholwe imicu yefilakisi edayiwe eRiphabhulikhi yaseGeorgia eyahlehlela emuva emhumeni wangaphambi komlando ku-36,000 BP.Ubufakazi bemivubukulo bubonisa lokho ukudaya sekuye kwenziwa kabanzi iminyaka engaphezu kuka-5000, ikakhulukazi eNdiya naseFenike.Odayi batholakala ezilwaneni, ezitshalweni noma ezimbizeni, ngaphandle kokucubungula noma okuncane kakhulu.So kude kakhulu umthombo omkhulu wodayi uvela esitshalwenis, ikakhulukazi izimpande, amajikijolo, amagxolo, amaqabunga nezinkuni.