# Sun-Activated Dyes Lumi Inkodye Uses Sunlight to Make Color Appear By Katherinev123 | Published 2012-01-05 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lumi-inkodye References: [psfk](http://www.psfk.com/2012/01/printing-sunlight-develop-dye.html) & [lumi.co](http://lumi.co/pages/about) L.A. design company Lumi is pioneering an innovative photographic print process through the application of its [Lumi Inkodye](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lumi-dreamstation02), a product that [changes color when exposed to sunlight](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/forever-wear-chill-paint). With Lumi Inkodye, you can print different images and patterns onto a variety of textiles and natural materials including cotton, silk and wood. When the dye is exposed to sunlight, it changes color -- permanently -- in about 5 to 8 minutes. Available in red, blue and orange, the dye can be mixed together to create different shades, and you can also add water to make them lighter. According to the design brand's site, Lumi Inkodye can be used to create photograms and shadow prints and used for everything from [painting and dyeing](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vamoosh-wash-dye) to silk-screening. The website says, "We're taking photography out of the darkroom by using sunlight to make durable prints on sustainable materials." ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.4/10 - Popularity: 4% | Activity: 1% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Sun-activated Textiles:** There is an opportunity for textile industries to incorporate sun-activated dyes into their products, providing an innovative way to create unique designs. - **Natural Material Printing:** With the rise of sustainability practices, there is potential for industries to use sun-activated dyes for printing on materials such as wood and cotton to create eco-friendly products. - **Alternative Photographic Printing:** Sun-activated dyes provide an alternative printing technique for photographers, reducing the chemical use and potentially lowering production costs. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Textile Industry:** The textile industry has an opportunity to incorporate sun-activated dyes into their products, providing an innovative way to create unique designs in a sustainable manner. - **Eco-friendly Product Industry:** Industries producing eco-friendly products can use sun-activated dyes for printing on materials such as wood and cotton, providing an opportunity to create more sustainable products. - **Photography Industry:** Sun-activated dyes present a new printing technique for photographers, reducing the chemical use and potentially lowering production costs. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Octopus-Inspired Color-Changing Inks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/university-of-hong-kong.md) - [Eco-Friendly Fashion Color Dyes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cone-denim-1.md) - [Color-Displaying Ink Variants](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kobe-university.md) - [Biomaterial Color-Changing Installations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sensibiom-2.md) - [Photosensitive Book Experiences](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-outside-book.md) - [Daylight-Responsive Brick Designs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/luminescent-bricks.md) - [Progressive Rewritable Tattoos](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/magic-ink.md) - [Sunlight-Mimicking Panelled Lamps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sunne-lamp.md) - [Living Printable Materials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/living-ink.md)