cyanotypes

cyanotype

1. Mix Your Cyanotype Chemistry

These Cyanotype instructions will make up 200ml of working solution, enough to coat roughly 50 A4 sheets.

First off you need to measure 25g of Ferric Ammonium Citrate and add water to bring it up to 100 ml. Next, you measure 10g of Potassium Ferricyanide and mix that with water to make up to 100ml. Make sure both the chemicals are fully dissolved. Finally, under subdued light, mix the two solutions together. You are now ready to coat your paper.

2. Coat Your Paper

The paper should be coated away from sunlight. Tungsten light, as found in most lightbulbs is fine. Use a brush to evenly coat your cyanotype solution. A foam brush will give you a nice even coat. Then, leave the paper to dry in the dark. You should mix the solution as you need it, as it does not keep well. Paper, once you coat it and it is dry, can be kept in the dark until you are ready to use it.

3. Make Your Print

Place a negative or an object onto the prepared paper. A piece of glass over the top will help keep the image sharp. You then leave the paper to expose in sunlight or under a UV lamp. The exposure will time depend on how bright the light is, so you will need to do some testing. The paper will begin to change colour during exposure. The exposed part of the paper will turn a pale bronze colour, this will let you know the print is ready to wash.

3.Wash Your Print

Finally, rinse the paper in water for 2 minutes and you will see the colours reversed. This will also fix your exposed image and make it safe to view in daylight. If you do not have water to hand, place your exposed paper back in a box to wash later.