The process commonly known as Eco Printing (a.k.a. botanical contact printing) uses plant parts (leaves, flowers, stems) to transfer their pigments onto fabric or paper, usually using heat. The results are somewhat unpredictable but always interesting!

 

By wrapping the plants parts in close contact with fabric or paper, the plant pigments are transferred to the materials. Using boiling water or steam speeds up that process. The boiling or steaming takes about 1.5 hours. The bundles of fabric or paper are cooled slightly before being unwrapped to see the wonderful and surprising results!