Photo-Printed Silk Ribbon with Inkodye

a Dharma featured tutorial

Inkodye is no more, but SolarFast is here to save the day! This tutorial works even better using SolarFast than it did with Inkodye! Only with Inkodye (now with Solarfast!) can you create this incredibly easy and rewarding DIY project! Because Inkodyes are truly photographic you can use them with black & white negatives to create your very own photo-printed silk ribbon.

Use your ribbon in your hair, around your waist on a summer dress or cut it into sections and give them away as adorable bookmarks!

Total tutorial time: 15 minutes

Shopping list:

Inkodye - Violet
Black & White Photo Negatives
Silk Ribbon
Foam Brush
Pins
Work Surface Board

Let's get started!

What you'll need

Making your own negatives. You can buy a B&W disposable camera and take your own shots! Important Note: High contrast negatives are needed for this project to work so try to overexpose the pics you take! You can also request "push processing" at your local film development lab to ensure higher contrast negatives.

Black and White camera or use negatives you have already

Prepare. Cut your ribbon to the size of the negatives you'd like to print

Find some ribbon!

Position. Lay your ribbon down onto a board that you'll be able to move out into the sun

Get a firm backing to work on

Pour. Apply your Inkodye straight from the bottle, we recommend not diluting for this project

Directly apply the ink

Brush. Using a regular ol' foam brush make sure your Inkodye is evenly applied

Foam brush for evening the coat

Place. Get your negative placed properly, make sure you put it SHINY side down so as not to smear it

Shiny side down and line it up well

Pin. Using push pins, pin your project to the board to keep the negative in contact and so it can't blow away!

Pin in place

Smooth. Using the slight stickyness of the wet ribbon rub the negative down until it is smooth

Press firmly to get it to stick to the wet surface

Take into the sun. This is where the magic happens, watch your photos develop right before your eyes!

Outside with you!

Wait. Leave your project in the sun for at least 5 minutes, up to 12 minutes in cloudy weather

Full sun exposure is best

Uncover. In a shady indoor area uncover your masterpiece!

Bring it back in to remove the film

Wash. Wash vigorously in HOT soapy water, preferably use a strong textile soap like Dharma Dyers Detergent. If you do not wash enough your project may continue to develop after it is dry.

Soapy hot water to wash out the excess