The PAR Lumen Kit and the Creative World 2026 Award
The PAR Lumen Kit (Print Art Read) was awarded the Impulse Award 2026 at Creative World, one of the most important international fairs dedicated to creative materials and artistic techniques. The award recognizes especially innovative products within the creative sector, and in this case highlights PAR’s proposal to bring an experimental photographic technique such as lumen print to artists, students and workshops.
What is Lumen Print
Lumen print is an experimental photography technique based on the direct reaction of light on photosensitive photographic paper.
Unlike other historical processes such as cyanotype or Van Dyke, lumen print does not use emulsions manually applied to the paper. Instead, it uses already sensitized photographic paper, which reacts to prolonged exposure to sunlight.
During exposure, solarisation, oxidation and other internal chemical reactions take place within the paper. These generate images with variable tones. Results may include pink, purple, golden or brown colors depending on the type of paper, the light intensity, and the exposure time.
For this reason, lumen print is considered an especially experimental and creative technique in which each image is slightly different.
How the Process Works
The lumen print process is very simple and allows you to work without a camera or complex photographic equipment.
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An object, silhouette or transparency is placed on the photosensitive paper.
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The whole set is exposed directly to sunlight.
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Over time, color changes and silhouettes begin to appear on the paper.
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Once the image has been obtained, the paper can be fixed to stabilize the result.
The process partly resembles making photograms with traditional black-and-white photographic paper, such as RC paper or baryta paper used in analog photography darkrooms.
The difference is that in lumen print, prolonged exposure to sunlight causes chemical reactions that generate unexpected colours, usually pink, purple, beige or greyish tones.
The result is a set of organic and expressive images, close to photograms and early camera-less photographic techniques.
What’s Included in this Kit
The PAR Lumen Kit is designed to let you start experimenting with lumen print immediately.
Lumen Kit contents:
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12 pre-sensitised photosensitive papers in 10 × 15 cm format
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12 postcard backs in 10 × 15 cm format
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bag of powdered fixer to mix with water
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gloves
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2 rinsing trays
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funnel
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step-by-step instructions available in 8 languages
What You Can Create with the Lumen Print Kit
Lumen print allows experimentation with a wide variety of objects and materials placed directly on the paper.
Some common ideas include:
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leaves, flowers and plants
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textiles or textured materials
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transparent or translucent objects
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negatives or printed transparencies
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small everyday objects
Each object filters light differently, generating unique and unrepeatable images.
Exposure with Sunlight
Lumen print works very well with direct sunlight, although it can also be carried out with intense natural light.
Exposure times vary depending on light intensity, but they usually range between 10 and 60 minutes.
During this time the paper gradually changes colour, revealing the shapes and silhouettes created by the objects placed on its surface.
Environmentally Responsible Production
Kits by the Dutch manufacturer PAR (Print-Art-Read) are assembled in a local workplace in the Netherlands that employs people with limited access to the standard labour market.
The product has also been designed with sustainability and recyclability in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a camera to use this kit?
No. Lumen print is a camera-less technique that uses sunlight directly to create images.
Is development necessary?
No. The process does not require chemical development. Once the image has been obtained, only a final fixing bath is needed to stabilise it.
How long does exposure take?
It depends on sunlight intensity, but exposures usually last between 10 and 60 minutes.
Can negatives, film positives or transparencies be used?
Yes. It is possible to use photographic negatives or printed transparencies, although this technique works especially well with physical objects.
Do the sensitised papers expire?
The papers in the Lumen Kit do not have a fixed expiry date as long as they are kept in their original packaging and protected from light and moisture. However, over time their effectiveness and sensitivity may be affected.
Is the process or handling of the Lumen Kit papers dangerous?
No. The papers are already sensitised and the process only requires a final fixing bath. Even so, it is advisable to use gloves and work in a ventilated space.
If you are interested in exploring other solar printing and alternative photography techniques, you can also discover our cyanotype and Van Dyke kits, as well as other processes based on solar reactive products such as Jacquard SolarFast.
