Activation of the surface of cotton fabrics before chemical copper plating is proposed to be carried out by applying dispersed copper particles. For this purpose, physical and chemical processes that occur in thin layers of copper chloride solutions under the influence of electromagnetic solar rays of the visible spectrum are used. Initially, copper chlorides interact with cellulose, which is the main component of the tissue, and form copper monochloride. It is shown that this interaction is stimulated by solar rays. After that, the fabric is moistened with a solution of ascorbic acid and again exposed to sunlight. Under the action of photons of solar radiation, electrons in a semiconductor acquire additional energy and restore copper to the elemental state, and the vacancies formed are filled with electrons due to the oxidation of ascorbic acid. As a result of these processes, a film is formed on the surface of the tissue containing copper particles that can catalyze chemical copper plating.