PURPOSE: To obtain a eyanine dye having little absorption in the visible range, non-dissolving, excellent in stability with age and useful for a photographic dye, an ink and a recording compound for an optical information recording medium.

CONSTITUTION: This is a dye of the formula, (D)-Zm.Xn {D is formula I (Y1 and Y2 each may condense to form a ring and a non-metallic atom group necessary for forming a 5- or 6-membered nitrogen-containing heterocycle; R1 and R2 are each an alkyl, an alkenyl or an aralkyl; L is a connecting group in which 5, 7 or 9 methine groups are linked through conjugated double bonds; l1 and l2 are each 0, 1); z is a dissociating group [2 or more than 2 out of (m) are dissociated]; X is a cation capable of chelating the dye; (m)=2-6; (n)=1-5}, e.g. formula II (X is Ca2+, Ba2+, Mg2+, etc.). The fine powdery dye is obtained by dissolving the dye (D) Zm under the control of pH and then adding a water- soluble salt of the cation X to precipitate the dye as fine crystals. The average particle diameter of the fine particles is 0.005-10μm (especially preferably, 0.01-0.5μm).