We have a whole world of digital creative tools at our fingertips, but so few ways to express them out in the real world. Screen printing is a messy hassle, and ordering designs through online websites takes you out of the creative process. The Inkodye kit from Lumi, available in the Maker Shed, puts all the creativity within arm’s reach. All you need is access to sunlight and a washing machine. Lumi Inkodye works using UV-reactive ink. When you saturate fabric with the ink and leave it out in direct sunlight, the fabric will be permanently dyed. However, any part of the fabric that was protected from the sun won’t be changed — we’ll use this to create our design.
The basis of this project is using a design on a printed transparency to prevent the UV rays of the sun from exposing the ink. But your designs won’t be limited to just printed transparencies — anything that casts a shadow can be used in your design — leaves, tools, feathers, or anything else that makes an interesting shadow can become your next design. You can also take photos using their iOS app and order transparencies to use in your designs.
