Page 13 - Fuse Magazine - Volume 41 2018

f E a T u R E

how to

mAkE A

cyAnotypE

Get to grips with this

process and enjoy beautiful

blue results

ow that we’ve got our negative,
N we can use a cunning
combination of old and new
technologies to make our analog
cyanotype print. The process was
invented by Sir John Herschel in 1842,
and the beautiful results are rendered in
the characteristic hues of Prussian blue.
It’s a fairly simple process to learn, and
best of all, you don’t need loads of
fancy equipment…

1 2 3

pREp youR pApER ExpoSE thE pRint wASh And go
use a brush or a glass rod to coat a Cyanotype emulsion is only sensitive You’ll have to experiment with the
sheet of 100% acid-free cotton-rag to UV light, so you’ll need to make your time it takes to get a good exposure.
paper with light-sensitive cyanotype exposure outside or with a uV lamp. Once exposed, it’s simply a case of
emulsion. Do this in a darkened room First, sandwich your negative with the washing out the unexposed emulsion
(it doesn’t have to be totally dark; the sensitised paper in a contact-print in running water; no developer or fixer
light from a small table lamp is okay). frame (glass, a backing board and is needed. Leave the print to rinse for
Ideally, you need to leave the paper bulldog clips will work fine). Now head five minutes, then hang it up to dry. The
to dry naturally, but you can use a hair outside and expose it to the sunlight intensity of tones and colour will change
dryer if you’re in a hurry. for several minutes. as the prints dry.