Lumen Print Experiments Samples & Technical Information
Contents: 4 Method•Materials•Intention 5-43 Lumen Print Samples 45 Summary and Reflection
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Lumen Print Samples
Method•Materials•Intention
These Lumen Print samples were created throughout March and April 2020 using expired black and white photography paper. Lumen printing is a contact printing method, meaning images are created by laying either objects or film directly onto the paper before exposing it to light. In my experiments I used a combination of transparencies and plant materials. Moisture from plants reacts with the light sensitive chemicals that coat the photography paper to create some interesting effects. This was further tested by deliberately wetting foliage before exposure. I also conducted experiments with substances designed to affect the PH value of the photography paper such as Vinegar, Baking Soda and Salt to see if the introduction of acid and alkaline had an effect on the colour and pattern development. Most of my samples were exposed outdoors for a minimum of 48 hours inside a glass panel and backing board held together either with a picture fame or bulldog clips. Where water or any substances were used, a layer of cling film was wrapped around the frame to seal in the moisture. After exposure each print needed to be washed in water to remove any plant matter that may have attached itself to the paper and then soaked in a bath of Ilford Rapid Fixer for 10 to 15 minutes, mixed 1 part fixative to 4 parts water. I soon discovered that agitating the bath continuously sped up development, resulting in deeper colour development and more defined imagery. Prints were then rinsed in running water to remove fixative before being left to dry naturally. At first they were line dried, but as pegs left indentations on the prints I preferred to dry them flat on the floor on a towel. I had no specific intentions when I started creating Lumen Prints, most of these samples developed alongside my Cyanotype experiments, often using the same transparencies and plants to compare possibilities of each process for image development. This sample book contains every Lumen Print regardless of it’s success as an image with prints laid out in chronological order.
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Lumen Print Samples
Date: 12th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Dry weeds from garden, placed in Ikea frame, secured with bulldog clips. Conditions were dry and dull throughout exposure. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water. 5
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 12th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Dry weeds from garden, placed in Ikea frame, secured with bulldog clips. Conditions were dry and dull throughout exposure. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water. 6
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 16th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Transparency placed in Ikea frame, secured with bulldog clips. Conditions were dry and dull throughout exposure. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water. 7
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 16th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Dry weeds from garden, placed in Ikea frame, secured with bulldog clips. Conditions were dry and dull throughout exposure. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water. 8
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 16th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Dry weeds from garden, placed in Ikea frame, secured with bulldog clips. Conditions were dry and dull throughout exposure. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water. 9
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 16th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Grasses from Kedleston Hall, placed in Ikea frame, secured with bulldog clips. Conditions were dry and dull throughout exposure. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water. 10
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 16th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Leaf litter from Kedleston Hall, placed in Ikea frame, secured with bulldog clips. Conditions were dry and dull throughout exposure. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water. 11
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 18th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Dampened leaf litter from Kedleston hall, placed in Ikea frame, wrapped in cling film and secured with bulldog clips. Conditions were wet during exposure. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water. 12
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 18th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Dampened weeds from garden, placed in frame, wrapped in cling film and secured with bulldog clips. Conditions were wet during exposure. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water. 13
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 18th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Dampened weeds from garden, placed in frame, wrapped in cling film and secured with bulldog clips. Conditions were wet during exposure. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water. 14
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 18th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Dampened weeds from garden, placed in frame, wrapped in cling film and secured with bulldog clips. Conditions were wet during exposure. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water. 15
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 19th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper
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Notes: Transparency drizzled with water and vinegar, cling film was wrapped smoothly around photo paper to keep in moisture, held flat in M&S frame. Conditions varied. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water.
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 19th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Transparency drizzled with water and vinegar, cling film was wrapped smoothly around photo paper to keep in moisture, held flat in M&S frame. Conditions varied. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water.
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Lumen Print Samples
Date: 19th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper
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Notes: Transparency drizzled with water and vinegar, cling film was wrapped smoothly around photo paper to keep in moisture, held flat in M&S frame. Conditions varied. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water.
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 19th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Transparency drizzled with water and vinegar, cling film was wrapped smoothly around photo paper to keep in moisture, held flat in M&S frame. Conditions varied. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water.
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Lumen Print Samples
Date: 21st March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper
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Notes: Transparency drizzled with water and baking soda cling film was wrapped smoothly around photo paper to keep in moisture, held flat in M&S frame. Conditions varied. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water.
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 21st March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Transparency drizzled with water and vinegar, cling film was wrapped smoothly around photo paper to keep in moisture, held flat in M&S frame. Conditions varied. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water.
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Lumen Print Samples
Date: 21st March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper
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Notes: Transparency drizzled with water and vinegar, cling film was wrapped smoothly around photo paper to keep in moisture, held flat in M&S frame. Conditions varied. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water.
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 21st March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Transparency drizzled with water and baking soda cling film was wrapped smoothly around photo paper to keep in moisture, held flat in M&S frame. Conditions varied. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water.
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Lumen Print Samples
Date: 21st March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Transparency drizzled with water, cling film was wrapped smoothly around photo paper to keep in moisture, held flat in M&S frame. Conditions varied. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water. 24
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 21st March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Transparency drizzled with vinegar, cling film was wrapped smoothly around photo paper to keep in moisture, held flat in M&S frame. Conditions varied. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water. 25
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 23rd March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper
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Notes: Cut out transparencies and weeds drizzled with water, cling film was wrapped crinkled around photo paper to keep in moisture, held flat in M&S frame. Conditions mainly dull. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water.
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 23rd March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Cut out laser transparencies (ink side down by mistake) and weeds drizzled with water, cling film was wrapped smoothly around photo. Laser print ink transferred onto photo paper. Conditions varied. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water.
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Lumen Print Samples
Date: 27th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper
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Notes: Cut out laser transparencies (ink side down this time intentional to encourage ink transfer) and evergreen drizzled with water, cling film was wrapped smoothly around photo. Conditions varied. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water.
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 27th March 2020 Exposure: 4 days Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Cut out laser transparencies with weeds from garden and Daisies, drizzled with water, cling film was wrapped smoothly around photo. Conditions varied. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water. Double exposure time made no difference to results.
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Lumen Print Samples
Date: 28th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Cut out laser transparency with garden weed foliage and flowers, drizzled with water, cling film was wrapped crinkled around photo. Conditions varied. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water. 30
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 28th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Full transparency with garden weed foliage, Primroses and other flowers, drizzled with water, cling film was wrapped crinkled around photo. Conditions varied. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water.
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Lumen Print Samples
Date: 28th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper
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Notes: Cut out transparency with garden weeds leafs, Primroses and other flowers, drizzled with water, cling film was wrapped crinkled around photo. Conditions varied. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water.
Lumen Print Samples
Date: 28th March 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Expired Paper Notes: Cut out transparency with garden weed leafs, Primroses and other flowers, drizzled with water, cling film was wrapped crinkled around photo. Conditions varied. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water.
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Lumen Print Samples
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Lumen Print Samples
Date: 4th April 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Glossy Made 1997 Notes: Transparency with Clover leafs, picked from the verge on Station Road and sea salt crystals, drizzled with water. Cling film was wrapped crinkled around image to keep in moisture. Exposed in full sunshine. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water. Salt crystals stuck to paper and were hard to remove it would be better to let them dissolve in future.
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Lumen Print Samples
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Lumen Print Samples
Date: 4th April 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Glossy Made 1997 Notes: Cut out transparencies with leafs, petals, Cow Parsley and sea salt crystals, drizzled with water. Cling film was wrapped crinkled around image to keep in moisture. Sunny conditions. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, and soaked for further 15 mins to dissolve salt and then soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water.
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Lumen Print Samples
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Lumen Print Samples
Date: 4th April 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Glossy Made 1997 Notes: Cut out transparencies with leafs, petals, Forget me nots and sea salt crystals, saturated with water. Cling film was wrapped crinkled around image to keep in moisture. Print exposed in full sunshine. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 min* utes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water.
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Lumen Print Samples
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Lumen Print Samples
Date: 4th April 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Glossy Made 1997 Notes: Cut out transparencies with full plants, petals, Forget me nots, Honesty stem and sea salt crystals, saturated with water. Cling film was wrapped crinkled around image to keep in moisture. Exposed in full sun* shine. Print soaked in water for 15 minutes to dissolve salt, washed in water for 5 min* utes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water.
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Lumen Print Samples
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Lumen Print Samples
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Lumen Print Samples
Date: 4th April 2020 Exposure: 48 hours Paper: Ilford RC Deluxe Glossy Made 1997 Notes: Two part print using two sheets of photo paper layed together, transparency and Cherry Blossom flowers and petals found on Catterick Drive, drizzled with water. Cling film was wrapped crinkled around image to keep in moisture. Sunny conditions. Print washed in water for 5 minutes, soaked for 15 minutes in rapid fixer before final rinse with water. Resulting images to be digitally joined in Photoshop.
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Lumen Print Samples
Summary and Reflection In the beginning I felt Lumen Printing had the most potential to create really beautiful designs for textile print. From the very first image I found the Lumen process could transform the ugliest weeds from my garden (all that was growing at the time) into the most delicate, luminous images. Capturing depth and detail in a way that was eluding me at the time with my Cyanotype experiments, which felt flat and lifeless in comparison. Lumen printing also offered a means of printing regardless of the weather, in fact the addition of moisture makes the resulting outcomes more inter* esting. Aside from the initial small batch of prints I produced dry, the rest within this book were deliberately damped and, in some cases, satu* rated with water. My experiments with altering the PH values didn’t seem to affect the out* come of an image any more than just using water, however on reviewing my samples I realised the use of vinegar and baking soda was only used in con* junction with my transparencies. As the addition of water alone can have a dramatic effect on plants, which is evident when comparing the two samples below. It may be worth carrying out further tests with plants and flowers, adding the vinegar and baking soda to ascertain potential. As I have talked about in more detail on my recent blog post, reviewing my Lumen prints has made me feel that I gave up on experimenting with them too soon. As my skills in Cyanotype developed, and the possibilities for
Dry Lumen Print
Wet Lumen Print 45
Lumen Print Samples
printing directly onto fabric became apparent and fired my imagination, I began to see Lumen printing as a restrictive process which bound me to paper size. With hindsight creatively I hit a wall with my Lumen prints, they were not progressing to the same degree as my Cyanotypes and it was just easier to continue with something that was working well. This is a habit learned from the reality of working in design for a living. In my day job I have to make quick decisions that I rarely have time to dwell on, if something isn’t working then I either make it work quickly or move on to something else. Now though as I have the time and space to resume my Lumen printing, I feel there could be much to be gained in doing so. There are a few technical issues to overcome, but I feel that many of the techniques I’ve developed to create imagery within my Cyanotype samples could be transferable to the Lumen Process. For example, I love the dream like quality of the cats with clover and grass image below and I’d like to try and scale this up, using multiple sheets of photography paper. There are issues with this that need to be dealt with, namely the most interesting effects are achieved by direct contact between the photographic paper and dampened foliage which reacts with the coating to produce the most pronounced variations in colur. The transparencies which need to sit perfectly flat against the paper create a barrier that prevents this. There may be ways to overcome this and it is this aspect that I would like to inves* tigate further. Particularly as there is a large patch of clover currently growing in my lawn.
Transparency with Clover and Salt 46