Actual Cyanotypes

First things first, what color is cyan?? It is a type of blue, used in printing. There are different shades of it. this one is rather bright.

Cyanotypes are another form of alternative processing. It was originally created as a way to make copies of drawings or photos. In the 1900s it was used to make "blueprints" by architects and builders.

Select a series of photos you are proud of.

Start by resizing them PROPORTIONALLY. You can do this by clicking

CONSTRAIN PROPORTIONS and RESAMPLE IMAGE.

You will be making a DIGITAL NEGATIVE to great a POSITIVE cyanotype.

A negative shows all things dark as light and light as dark:

Start with your image. Turn it Black and White. Invert by pushing "Command and i".

You now have a black and white negative for one of you images.

Print this inverted image -or negative- on a transparency.

Cut and place the transparency on top of the cyanotype paper.

Place a piece of glass that covers both the transparency and paper into DIRECT SUNLIGHT (outside).

The glass helps prevent movement of the negative on the paper.

Exposure time varies based on type of sunlight and type of negative.

It may take a few tries to get the correct exposure for your image.

I will show you how to make a "Test Sheet" to figure that out if your image is not appearing.

Once your exposure is done, rinse it with water until the water runs clear. This is your way of "fixing" or "setting" the image.

Dry it out and TAH-DAH!!!!

VISUAL STEPS

Pick an image.

Turn it black and white.

Invert it (Command and i).

Print onto transparency.

Place negative over cyanotype paper. Set your timer between 10-15 minutes. Put glass over it and place in the sun.

Rinse cyanotype out until water runs clear.

Image will appear. Dry it out. TAH-DAH!

Tests:

Medium contrast image, 13 minutes.

Overexposed image, 10 minutes. Image was too bright to begin with. Less development time.

High contrast image, 15 minutes.

Low contrast image, 17 minutes. Too long in development, not enough detail.