Vinyl dye is a type of paint that is used primarily on plastics. The theory is that the dye is thin enough to seep into the plastic and color it, rather than covering over its surface. The benefits of this are that it won't chip, scratch, or peel. It also means that you do not need to sand, or to use a primer. This is because you are staining the plastic, rather than hiding it.

This method will also leave surface impressions visible, such as lettering cut in cd-rom drives, and deep scratches. It won't fill them like paint.

  Another nice feature is that some colors will allow printed markings to show through. Such as the lettering on a drive bezel or markings you've made yourself. The key is to be creative. These markings do not always show through, so it's best to test on a scrap piece of plastic. The lighter the color, the more the markings will show. I do know that red and white don't conceal markings, while blue and black will mask said markings.