A little goes a very long way. Granules basically have a larger particle size, and thus do not have as much of the dusting problem that is associated with powder dye. Granules are usually more expensive than powder. Trying to add powder dye to a batch of molten candy will result in specks of powder in the finished product. Every shade dye has its own unique peculiarities which may be affected by other ingredients, the dispersion medium, temperature, pH, dye content, and the manufacturing process.
Liquids are excellent for use in many applications because they are relatively easy to measure.
The terminology can get confusing here. Lake Dispersions made with vegetable oil are frequently used for coloring chocolate, compound coatings, and candy centers. They are used in specific applications, such as taffy, hard candy, and cake decorating . Paste and Gel Colors are preferred in applications where using a water based product is undesirable. The biggest disadvantage of Paste Colors is that they are difficult to measure.