Dying background.

[BearBio]

HI, all.  My first post in a looooong time.  Been so long, I don't remember my old username.  Anyway, new PC and E-mail, so I just re-registered,  Many of you may know me from different forums or as Rufus Brady over as the SASS forum.

Anyway, I'm working /planning on doing some leatherwork.  Done a couple of slim jims and gonna try some tooling this time.  My question is:  How do you go about dying the background?  Paint it on with a painbrush (carefully)?  Die and coat the foreground and dip it after sealing it?

Thanks all!

[Holden A. Grudge]

Although new to leatherworking myself, I will give you what I have done.

I use an antiquing dye to darken up the tooled area and background then dye or oil over that. 

I am sure the true experts will give you a great myriad of answers.