Cyanotypes_Printing_technique_with_striking_blue_tones

Cyanotypes: Printing technique with striking blue tones

Cyanotype printing is an early photographic technique that can be easily done at home.

STORY BY

ADITI ELASSERY

WHAT’S IN

WHAT’S IN THIS NOOK?

When light meets paper

The slow art of exposure

What turns blue, stays blue

THIS NOOK?

Invented in 1842 by Sir John Herschel, the cyanotype process uses a combination of chemicals to create a light sensitive solution/ink which can be painted onto a surface such as paper or cloth.

Any object (flowers, leaves, drawings, photo negatives, paper cutouts to name a few) can be placed on this surface and when it is exposed to the sun or UV light, the exposed areas become blue and the covered areas remain white.

Vivid blues, perfect impressions — cyanotypes are sunlight captured on a piece of paper

Watch the process in action

Different exposure times will give different shades of blue. It also depends on the intensity of the sun. Generally 5-10 mins in bright sunlight gives a brilliant blue colour. It is also possible to overexpose, which creates a slightly muddy colour.

You can also paint designs on a clear plastic sheet and combine it with plants and flowers.

Objects pressed flat against the paper give a crisp sharp outline, such as the coin used above. Anything that is raised will be blurry, like the edges of the leaves which were not pressed flat.

Variations in opacities also show up with great accuracy so you can play with overlapping. This also works for photo negatives, creating beautiful photo prints.

Print made from the negative shown above

Where to get started

There are many DIY kits available if you would like to try this process yourself, such as the ones by Harkat Studios, Kitsters or CPB (Chennai Photo Biennale). There might also be workshops being conducted in your city, search for it to have some fun with this fascinating technique and take home a work of art!