About Cyanotype

Printed by the Sun

The Cyanotype process is a fascinating blend of art and science, where light, chemistry, and time come together to create a unique image. The process begins with a cotton-canvas fabric coated in a light-sensitive solution made from ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide. When objects like leaves, flowers, or even stencils are placed on the fabric, they block the light during exposure to UV light.

As the Hebridean sun shines – often soft and unpredictable, yet capable of casting a crisp light over the landscape – the fabric undergoes a chemical transformation. The exposed areas turn into a rich, deep blue, while the unexposed sections retain their original colour, creating striking silhouettes of the objects.

This is the LUMEN process if we're lucky enough to have the sun shining on a print-making day. Otherwise, our purpose built UV light box is utilised! After exposure, the fabric is washed in water, which removes the remaining chemicals, leaving behind only the vivid blue prints. These blues then have the option of being transformed once again through a solution of various liquids, such as coffee, wine tannins or peaty water.

At LUMEN, the Cyanotype in this unique setting combines the beauty of nature with the power of the sun to yield one-of-a-kind, visually arresting results. The fleeting nature of the Hebridean light adds its own charm to the process, making each print feel even more special and connected to the place, and the moment.

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The Process

  • A woman forages in a heather bank

    Foraging

    We hand pick botanicals for our prints locally on the Isle of Lewis.

  • A hand pours chemicals from an amber jar into a small measuring jug

    Cyanotype Chemicals

    Next we mix solutions of UV-sensitive salt and iron-based chemicals, Ferric Ammonium Citrate and Potassium Ferricyanide.

  • A hand coats a piece of plain fabric with chemicals from a brush

    Coating the Fabric

    This UV-sensitive solution is then coated onto our chosen fabric (for LUMEN, 100% cotton-canvas) and left to dry.

  • Dried flora and fauna leave strong shadows on a piece of fabric

    Expose with UV light

    Exposing our fabric with UV light creates a shadow of the foraged objects we have placed upon it.

  • Water washes over cyanotype fabric decorated with feathers, flora and fauna

    Wash

    In washing the fabric in water, the iconic blue of the Cyanotype and shapes of the botanicals are revealed.

  • Close up of hands pinning cyanotype fabric to a piece of herringbone Harris Tweed

    Create

    Once dry, our Cyanotype panel is ready to be paired with a beautiful Harris Tweed fabric.

  • Close up of cyanotype fabric detailing on Harris Tweed herringbone fabric

    The Collection

    Visit the LUMEN collection to see how we've crafted Cyanotype into our pieces.

See our Cyanotype Collection
A collection of feather, flora and fauna are placed on a range of differently toned cyanotype fabric

Need-to-Know

How to care for your LUMEN cyanotype pieces

  • Each piece of LUMEN Cyanotype is printed onto 100% cotton-canvas.

  • The chemicals used within the process are non-toxic and safe to the touch.

  • Hand wash only with a phosphate-free cleaner (a widely available delicates (wool or silk) liquid is perfect).

  • Strong detergents, machine washing or dry-cleaning will strip away those beautiful blues.

  • If required, a medium-heat iron can be used sparingly on the printed fabric.

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