How to Sun Print on Fabric | DIY Cyanotypes

How to sun print at home on fabric. Easy at home cyanotypes!
If you are interested in using this technique on paper, check out my other video | • HOW TO DIY CYANOTYPES ...
f u l l b l o g p o s t
coming soon!
f o l l o w a l o n g
web | www.justinesilva.com
instagram | @justine.silva
pinterest | @justinemsilva
twitter | @justinesilva_
m a t e r i a l s
fabric | amzn.to/3z3Mimb
cotton twine | amzn.to/3Po6GH6
cyanotype kit | amzn.to/3PBvJoQ
copper string lights | amzn.to/3cPmra8
plexiglass | amzn.to/3PA5mQf
double stick tape | amzn.to/3vmmhh4
packing tape | amzn.to/3cMrh8h
hydrogen peroxide | amzn.to/3oBPOj2
e q u i p m e n t
camera | amzn.to/3solU2b
lens | amzn.to/3nHpWPC
memory card | amazon: amzn.to/3bl5a2R
microphone | amazon: amzn.to/2J6qEUN
c o n t a c t
[e-mail]
t h a n k y o u !
thank you for following along with me! If you have any questions or ideas on what you want to see next, leave them in the comments below! please subscribe for all updates from me!
d i s c l a i m e r
projects are completed at the viewer's own risk. we are not responsible for any harm that could occur. as always, please read all manuals and instructions when working with new tools or projects. stay safe!
this post contains affiliate links, meaning I may receive a small compensation through any purchases at no cost to the viewer. all opinions and experiences are my own.
this video is not sponsored

[@lovedicedtomatoes9653]

Adorable dog wanted to play and have you throw the ball. So cute.

[@JustineSilva]

I know, too cute :)

[@BeckyStern]

Those turned out so nice! Such a fun summer craft. Thanks for sharing.

[@JustineSilva]

Thank you!

[@awakenedheartroom]

WOW ! Those are GORGEOUS !!!!

[@JustineSilva]

Thank you!

[@elenaholzemer7102]

Yesss this video is so clear and well paced!! This art teacher thanks you!

[@JustineSilva]

Thank you! I'm trying to get better at editing so this comment means a lot hah!

[@jenniludwig926]

Just getting started and so excited! Thank you for the easy to follow video!

[@JustineSilva]

Thanks for watching!

[@catherinerouchon7723]

This will be so fun to do tea towels for Christmas! Thank you!

[@JustineSilva]

Love that idea!

[@funnyd8798]

Wow I love how these turned out thanks for sharing

[@JustineSilva]

Thanks so much 😊

[@jaynewood6714]

Love your results- yes more please

[@JustineSilva]

Thank you!

[@SmartMass]

Very cute, thanks for explaining this project.

[@JustineSilva]

Thank you! 😊

[@lisacampbell-ingram5118]

Excellent video. You get right to the point. Not verbose at all!!! Inspiring. I'm so gonna do this. Thank you!

[@JustineSilva]

Thanks for watching! Have fun!

[@kittypalkingdom5547]

Your process is super well organized. Thank you !

[@JustineSilva]

Glad you enjoyed! thanks for watching!

[@SameraAbroad]

Wow love this! Such nice results, I feel inspired to try it out (and some of your other projects). Thanks for a nice tutorial - subscribed!

[@JustineSilva]

Thanks so much! 😊

[@TheCosmicThread11]

These are beautiful, thank you so much for sharing

[@JustineSilva]

Thanks so much 😊

[@davebauerart]

Nice results, the leaf patterns are fun.

[@JustineSilva]

Thanks Dave!

[@robshamel3210]

Thx for sharing. Very thorough instructions.

[@JustineSilva]

Thanks!

[@vincentferrari]

I’ve never seen this before! This is a neat process!

[@JustineSilva]

Pretty cool right?! Thanks Vincent !

[@godszenith4920]

That was really cool ive never seen that before.

[@JustineSilva]

glad you liked!

[@karinvaleri7130]

Gorgeous!!! Thankyou!!

[@JustineSilva]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@alainkr]

so cool ! love it

[@JustineSilva]

thank you!

[@matthewwilson3673]

Great project idea

[@JustineSilva]

Thanks!

[@cherylburkitt9722]

I love this so much ❤

[@JustineSilva]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@selasun4]

Wow!! Thank you for sharing ❤️

[@JustineSilva]

Thanks for wathing!

[@juliae.2120]

I just discovered this awesome technique and immediately started figuring out ways to incorporate this with my teaching. One idea i’m playing around with is doing something with tea towels with my summer school class. This way we can create a fun and neat sciences based art project. I’m still playing around with ideas but one thought i had was to have them maybe use paint and put handprints on a piece of acrylic so they can take home “hand towels”. I thought that might be a fun keepsake.

[@JustineSilva]

I love that! I have a memory of cutting apples in half to make prints on tea towels when I was a kid. Hope you have fun!

[@lidiabrasil529]

Estou amando seus trabalhos!!💋👌👌👌

[@JustineSilva]

Thank you xo!

[@cherylramey3948]

This is Awesome TY for the tutorial😊

[@JustineSilva]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@jordynbridge7058]

Beautiful!!

[@JustineSilva]

Thank you! 😊

[@md11x6]

Awesome result! You make that look really easy too, although I'm sure it's not that easy.

[@JustineSilva]

It really is!! You👏can👏do👏it!

[@theresamayorga425]

Great tutorial and tips

[@JustineSilva]

thanks for watching!

[@bmtarts3735]

Super helpful thank uuu ❤

[@JustineSilva]

Glad you liked! thanks!

[@miriamguerrero2488]

C est GENIAL..😍😍😍MERCI 🍀🙏

[@JustineSilva]

💙

[@missmedland]

gorgeous

[@JustineSilva]

Thanks!

[@jaqst117]

They remind me of Japanese fabrics …beautiful design aesthetic!

[@JustineSilva]

thank you!

[@jessicajanney4209]

I love the final image in the video… how did you get that effect? Also, well done on all of your videos they are very efficient to listen to well thought out and great subject matter!

[@JustineSilva]

Thank you! It's also cyanotype, but on regular paper :)

[@IslandGirl755]

Totally loved this video. Did you make the knotted wall hanging behind you at start of video? If so I would love a video on how to make one. I will try the Cyanotypes next summer as I have no material left in my garden since Hurricane Lee just left my garden a mess. I have saved this video to try it .

[@JustineSilva]

I did! I'll have to add an XL macrame to my list of videos to make :) Sorry about Hurricane lee! You can order pressed flowers and do it in a sunny window, you can also do this with film negatives or drawings on transparencies if you don't have any plants to use. It's fun to experiment! Good luck!

[@TheReloads22]

I really don't understand why you did it in a darkroom. Liquids are sensitive to UV light, not that of lamps, so you can do this in your home making sure not to let any glimmer of sunlight pass through

[@JustineSilva]

I actually used xmas lights so I could see what I was doing - which is also the way I did it when I was in college. I just didn't want to risk ruining my paper. Good to know that you can use a brighter light - especially for filming/youtube purposes.

[@tammymiller4499]

I love your process and can’t wait to try it. Can you use the fabric while it is still damp from the chemicals or do you have to wait for it to dry?

[@JustineSilva]

Wait for it to dry for the best results!

[@lindanaval8301]

The cyanotypes are beautiful! Did you make the large macrame on the wall behind you? If you did, is there a video on that, too?

[@JustineSilva]

I did! I don't have a video on that one, but I should add it to my list! Its super easy and fun :)

[@mchalekat9703]

This is a terrific video!!! So helpful. I am thinking about doing this for a party. Acknowledging I will have to be very careful about light leak, how long do you think I could keep the dried and treated fabric in the cardboard before using it? I have read others say you should use it within a few hours but they don’t seem to have the cardboard method you used. Thanks in advance!

[@JustineSilva]

I've kept it light-sealed in cardboard, then a dark closet for a few days. I'm not sure how much longer it would last... But you would definitely need to be mindful of light leaks :)

[@lidiabrasil529]

Loveeeeee!!Best!!!Demaissss!!Ameiiiiii!Essa placa que voce coloca é de que material?É acetato?Essa placa incolor?Lindooooo o efeito!!!Virei sua "Fã"😅😅😅😂😂😂😂

[@JustineSilva]

It’s plexiglass from the hardware store!

[@florenzenterprise8116]

👏👏👏

[@doloresposadas1431]

wow these look fantastic! How resistant to washing and sunlight tIs the dye?

[@JustineSilva]

Mine has stayed pretty bright - no fading from the sun! I have seen tutorials using a soda ash soak which might help if you're concerned about 'fixing' the dye. I would definitely hand wash if you are doing a garment.

[@45andSingle]

Great video. I'm thinking of experimenting with sun printing. I have a question, can safely use a red bulb like the ones in darkrooms while mixing the two chemicals? Thank you.

[@JustineSilva]

Yes you can!

[@rommycougar]

Awesome 👌, can this process be done on poly blend tshirts ?! Thanks

[@JustineSilva]

It works best with natural fabrics. I'm not sure the chemicals will adhere to synthetic fabrics.

[@joaonoronha3059]

Hi thanks for the nice vídeo, So you reckon the best way to spread the quimics on the fabric is by putting the fabric inside the bowl/bucket where the chemicals are , then spreading the quimics with a brush or some tool over the fabric?

[@JustineSilva]

I found it easiest to put it in the bowl, because my piece of fabric was pretty big. You can probably get away with brushing if you find that easier!

[@b.a.2521]

This turned out beautifully omg i'm in love Have the prints faded at all after washing, or if you haven't washed them, do you think they would?

[@JustineSilva]

They haven't faded! It's been almost a year!! I kind of want to try again with fabric that's a little more sheer!

[@highdeserthoney]

I did this on unbleached linen and the blue eventually turned yellow. I'm not sure how to prevent it. The imprint is still strong but the beautiful blue is gone.

[@makeitkozi]

So cool!! I HAVE to try this! Is there a “shelf life” after the solution is mixed?

[@JustineSilva]

Thanks! Its super fun & easy. The chemicals actually come as powders, so you'll want to mix water into them about 24 hours before you're ready to print. Did a little research - looks like once they're mixed with water they have a shelf life of around 6 months. Once you mix A&B together though, they'll only last around 2 weeks. I'd recommend only mixing as much as you need to get your project done and keeping the extra in a dark place (cabinet?) til you're ready to use the rest :) Have fun out there!

[@makeitkozi]

@@JustineSilva oh wow, good to know. Thank you for the prompt and thorough reply!!

[@jennaromano4627]

These are beautiful! I would like to do these with t-shirts for a kids camp. Do you have any idea about how many shirts I could soak in the chemicals from one set of bottles? Wondering if this will get too expensive...

[@JustineSilva]

The kit I used is linked in my bio. I'd recommend painting the mix on the shirt rather than soaking the whole thing - that way you can probably get a class of 25 done with one kit (though I'd give it a test run first)! You can find tons of images on pinterest of people who have done this on clothes/denim etc. Have fun!!

[@martinak.8226]

Awesome!! Does the print fade away washing the fabric multiple times? Any tips about how washing and taking care of a fabric piece done with cyanotype? Thanks 💙

[@JustineSilva]

I've had mine for 2 years, and they haven't faded. But you can try using a pre-soak of soda ash if you're concerned!

[@martinak.8226]

@@JustineSilva thank you 🙏🏻💙

[@janetgritter]

Great video. Two questions though, in your materials list what do you use the cotton twine for? And also how do you launder the material after printing. Thank you

[@JustineSilva]

I think the twine was accidentally added from my shibori video - i didn't use it for this one, but I do like having it around the studio! rinse with water to make sure all of the chemicals are out, then use a gentle detergent like ivory snow and handwash.

[@SIGNTEACH]

Beautiful! The dark room or “darkroom” portion of the process already makes me nervous. I’m not sure I would be able to cover my project as thoroughly (like your cleverly taped box) or work as quickly to prevent unwanted light activation. However, I LOVED watching YOUR wonderful results!!! One question: for how long after you’ve combined the two bottles is the mixture useable-assuming it has not been exposed to light? Must it all be used at once?

[@rkm310]

I just did this with the same brand she used. You can definitely tell the difference between when it is first mixed compared to even a few hours later. I tried using some 2 hours after it was mixed and it did not work at all- the blue was not stable and the whole paper turned white after I rinsed it in water. I definitely recommend saturating your paper or fabric as soon as it is mixed and only mix the amount you need. I made 8 prints on 8.5x11 paper with 1 oz of liquid for reference!

[@SIGNTEACH]

@@rkm310 thank you so much! You answered my other question: whether or not you could measure out a portion of the mixture or you had to use the entire contents at one sitting. Great information! Thanks again!

[@JustineSilva]

I agree with Michelle! The kit comes with two separate solutions as powder. You'll need to add water to each bottle and let them sit (separately) overnight before mixing both together. (These instructions are on the bottle). Separately, the bottles have ~6 month shelf life - according to the internet. Once you're ready to mix A+B together, you can definitely use measuring cups to only mix the amount that you need, but I do recommend treating your paper/fabric right after you have the solution mixed. I usually let them dry in my bathroom with the door closed until I'm ready to print in the sun. Hope that helps!

[@patriciaflorian4367]

what kind of fabric did you use? thanks for sharing beautiful work

[@JustineSilva]

100% cotton gauze. It's linked in the video description. You can use whatever weight you want, but definitely stick to natural (cotton/linen) fabrics :)

[@thesewinghivesewingclasses5892]

Is it colorfast after you rinse and hang it to dry? I want to try this, but I need to figure out the color staining other things. For example, if I made a pillowtop with the print, would the colors stain the sofa or rub off onto someone's clothes? Great tutorial, by the way. Your designs are beautiful. Thank you

[@JustineSilva]

Hi!Thanks for your comment. No - the colors should not transfer onto any other materials. This method of printmaking is closer to photography - it's not like dye where the pigment might rub off (like when you sit on a white couch in a new pair of jeans). Hope that helps!

[@estelley1424]

The result is gorgeous ✨Thank you for the simple and clear instructions! Is there any pre or after treatment needed to seal the print from fading after washing?

[@JustineSilva]

I didn't use any, but it's certainly something to look into!

[@sboh87]

I love this! I want to try it but i was wondering how much ammonium and potassium did you use. Did you use and finish both bottles? Did you soak the fabric in the chemical solution or you used a brush? I’m sorry for all the question! Thank you! :) Laura

[@JustineSilva]

The bottles will come with powder (ammonium and potassium) in them. I filled them with water as shown on the bottle, but from that, I only mixed up what I needed to make my prints. For these, I soaked the fabric, but you can definitely use a brush (it's probably more efficient). If you're doing it on paper, I definitely recommend a brush!

[@amorinooo]

Out of curiosity-I have this kit and know the bottles are smaller. Do you mix the parts in a bucket with water so you can dunk more efficiently, or do you have gallon sizes that you use for mixing?

[@JustineSilva]

I mixed part A and B together and painted it onto my fabric. I was using a thin cotton gauze, so it wasn't hard to saturate it. The thicker the fabric is, the more solution it will take, so keep that in mind!

[@paulcapon1139]

Wow .. great video ! Thankyou :) . What is the % hydrogen peroxide used for neutralising the photo-reactive chemicals? Is there a HP/Water ratio ? Thanks in advance and i love your work ! :)

[@JustineSilva]

Hey Paul, I'm sure there is a "right" amount of hydrogen peroxide, but I haven't done much research. I did just a 'splash', and it worked for me! There's probably more info out there - definitely worth researching if this is something you plan on getting into. :)

[@dmartin4416]

Justine, your results are beautiful. I just tried this with a cotton/silk scarf, but it was a bit of a failure. I hung it to dry in a wardrobe overnight, but when I went to put the plant material on the colour wasn't yellowy green, but a bluey colour? I did it anyway, and spritzed it with vinegar, and exposed it for couple of hours on a cloudy overcast day. When I washed it this morning, a lot of blue came out, and not very much definition of the plants? Is there anything I can do, do you think, to rescue this?

[@JustineSilva]

This sounds like you had a "light leak" when your fabric was drying. The photo sensitive chemical stays green until it's exposed to UV/Sunlight - then it turns blue. If your fabric was exposed to any light that activated the chemical before putting your plants/objects on top, it will turn blue because it's already been exposed. Make sure to leave in a closet or cover all windows for your fabric to dry. Hope that helps!

[@dmartin4416]

Thank you Justine.

[@stephaniedullanty4790]

Hi, this is a wonderful tutorial. I plan on doing this with summer campers. I have a question about prep. Is it possible to prep the fabric the night before, let the fabric dry and keep it covered until the next day when I can then bring it out and the kids can place their items on it to be printed?

[@JustineSilva]

Yes! You can absolutely prep pieces before, and let them dry. Just make sure to keep them in the dark until you're ready to print. You could even buy plastic mailers and fold a piece of fabric up for each camper! Jacquard also makes "kits" of pre-prepped "sun paper" which I have linked in the bio of my cyanotype video. I've also seen videos of teachers/counselors prepping a full cotton bed sheet and having kids lay on top to create the outlines of themselves! You can "develop" in a trash can filled with water, OR , you can run it into a lake (if your camp has one). Might be worth looking into! 🌀🌀🌀Have fun!!🌀🌀🌀

[@stephaniedullanty4790]

@@JustineSilva Thank you! ]

[@kittypalkingdom5547]

I have some cotton blend white curtains from IKEA. Does this work on blended fabrics? Thanks

[@JustineSilva]

The dye should bind to the natural fibers, but I'm not totally sure about the synthetics. Always worth a shot - it could totally work - especially since the curtains probably won't get much wear and tear through washing etc. Just keep in mind that they may fade from the sun in time - Mine are still bright and vibrant 2 years later, but they're in a low light area. Good luck!

[@jennicekathialee5903]

What do you recommend when is time to wash the piece of clothing?

[@JustineSilva]

I'd use a mild detergent like Ivory and handwash :)

[@juliegerson9031]

Does this have to be done with the heat of the sun too or can I do it inside with sun through a window?

[@JustineSilva]

You can do it through a window! the chemical is reacting to the UV light - not the heat. hope that helps!

[@joelysos]

hi justine!! im sun printing some tote bags but can't stop the cyanotype base from bleeding outwards into the blank canvas parts of the bag.... anything that i could do?

[@JustineSilva]

You could try masking or blue tape! You could also look into using wax/frisket to keep the cyanotype from soaking into the fabric. I'm not super familiar with doing this, but might be worth a google search!

[@mansikaushik4494]

can we use indigo dye instead of those solutions?

[@JustineSilva]

No, Indigo dye won't work with the sun. If you're interested in dyeing with indigo, check out my video on shibori dyeing!

[@ivonnearambulanin]

Can you get different color cyanotypes? Or is it always blue? Also can it be done on a different color base fabric?😊

[@theresarosado]

Dick Blick stocks many different colors of cyanotype dyes!

[@user-op7ih9ry4i]

Hi! How do you wash cyanotype printed fabric?

[@JustineSilva]

handwash!

[@cinnamongypsea]

How does the tape not show ??? 😙 Love 💗

[@JustineSilva]

it's clear tape! the UV from the sun doesn't pick it up :)

[@gnarbeljo8980]

The fabric looks white when you're arranging the leaves, but when you remove the cardboard outside it looks green. Is that green from the very second you took the cardboard off and it hits the fabric? Trying to work out how to do this on bigger lengths consistently....

[@JustineSilva]

The photo sensitive chemical dries greenish. Once it gets activated by the sun, it turns blue. The part covered by the leaves is the photosensitive chemical NOT activated by the sun - once you rinse it off, it turns white again! Make sure to rinse it ALL out (no more green) so the whites stay white! 🤍

[@LuisMuniz2]

so i've done t shirts but after washing them in the regular laundry they get brown. Any solutions to avoid loosing the blue?

[@JustineSilva]

I'd recommend hand washing. I wonder if it's turning brown because there's a reaction from the detergent and the light sensitive chemicals. I usually ivory snow on anything handmade because it's the 'gentle-est' detergent.

[@jadwigamoon8228]

What did you use with water?:)

[@JustineSilva]

A splash of hydrogen peroxide

[@marianamomcheva7859]

What kind of fabrics can be used, thank you

[@JustineSilva]

I recommend using natural fabrics like linen, cotton or silk. I have a link to the fabric I used in the bio of this video!

[@elainetucker7297]

Can different colors be used , ❓

[@JustineSilva]

Cyanotype is only blue. You can look into "Solar Fast" which has different colors. The process is similar to this one.

[@user-of4mq4kh3c]

What's the name of the chemical you used for rinsing

[@JustineSilva]

Just water with a splash of hydrogen peroxide to make the blues brighter!

[@digitalmunky]

What about longevity and washing?

[@JustineSilva]

Mine hasn't faded after 2 years! Just make sure to rinse thoroughly!

[@myrajones8253]

hi everytime i try this, the print forms but as soon as i wash the fabric, it instantly disappears and the blue washes off. How can i fix this?

[@JustineSilva]

hmm, that's really weird - are you using a 100% cotton fabric? If it's not a natural material (like cotton/linen/silk), the chemical may have a hard time "sticking" to the fibers. Stay away from polyester/acrylic. Hope that helps!

[@Itwillifithasto]

Ma’am is there any way I can prevent the design from fading?

[@JustineSilva]

Mine haven't faded since I made this video - I'd make sure you rinse the light sensitive chemicals all the way out, otherwise the whites will eventually begin to turn blue.

[@highdeserthoney]

I did this on unbleached linen, and the results were beautiful...but over the course of a year, the blue turned to yellow. The botanical print is still strong but there are only a couple of faint patches of blue left on the yellow. I suppose they will also fade out. I wonder if there is a way to treat the fabric to prevent this from occurring?

[@JustineSilva]

This has happened to me in the past. I think it's because the chemicals weren't completely washed away, and they eventually fade to yellow. Make sure to rinse it really well! sometimes I'll even take to the sink and run under clean water to make sure I get everything out. Hope that helps!

[@highdeserthoney]

@@JustineSilva I rinsed it thoroughly and even put it through the wash and it was fine for nearly a year before the change began to occur. I am wondering if I needed to pretreat the fabric, the way one would mordant a fabric before dyeing. Another consideration, I didn't scour the fabric first, so if it was pretreated in the production process there may have been a chemical reaction. (It shouldn't have been, as I specifically ordered unbleached organic linen, but you never really know). I'll let you know if I ever figure it out.

[@pedrofazanaro5415]

does it only take 15 minutes in the sun?

[@JustineSilva]

It depends on how sunny it is! I suggest doing a couple smaller test prints first :)

[@renbren3008]

how do you keep the print from fading after you wash it?

[@JustineSilva]

I don't have it hung in direct sunlight, and it's been fine for almost 2 years!

[@carolineellingworth8433]

Can you please send me the details for the fabric you used. Many thanks Caroline

[@JustineSilva]

Link in bio of this video!

[@lunalgabal7899]

What percentage of hydrogen peroxide do you use? Are 3% enough?

[@JustineSilva]

I used standard Hydrogen Peroxide from a drugstore!

[@lunalgabal7899]

Ok, thank you.@@JustineSilva

[@anilautomobiles3613]

Yet Didn't understand the color details Pls share in details

[@JustineSilva]

Cyanotype only comes in blue, but it looks like you can use a product called "solar fast" by jacquard if you want different colors! :)

[@zeroyourhero1924]

Me from Germany, where is the sun. 😅

[@JustineSilva]

haha! I think you can do it with a UV light ☀️

[@poornitha3739]

here after bangtanbomb

[@JustineSilva]