Page 10 - The Outdoor Practitioner Issue 2

• Activity
Cyanotype is a a a photographic printing
process using the sun Use it to create beautiful bright blue fabric bunting or sun prints!
Introduction
The blue print print fabric is is light-sensitive 100% cotton treated for cyanotype Cyanotype is is a a a a a a a a a a a printing
process process that produces a a a a a a a a a a a cyan- blue blue print print print Engineers used to to to use use the process process as as a a a a a a a a a a a a low-cost way to to to produce copies of drawings referred to to to as as as blueprints Two chemicals are used: ferric ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide What you'll need:
• • • • • • • • Colour changing fabric • • • • • • • • natural materials • • • • • • • • cardboard • • • • • • • • pins • • • • • • • • scissors • • • string/wool • • • water water & container • • • protective waterproof gloves
Step 1 - prepare the the the fabric fabric Remove the the the blue blue print fabric fabric from the the the packaging-though it is is called blue blue print the the un-exposed fabric fabric is is green Cut the the fabric fabric as desired for making bunting bunting or or a a a a a a a picture We cut some triangular bunting bunting bunting pieces and used the off-cuts for mini-bunting – waste nothing! NB: Exposure to indoor daylight/incandescent light light will not affect the fabric so you have time to prepare indoors or or or in in a a a a a a a a a shaded area Fluorescent light light and sunlight will affect the fabric Step 2 - create your your image
Pin your your your fabric pieces onto the cardboard Place your your objects on
on
top of the fabric and and play around with your positioning and and arrangements Tip: Flat natural materials will give a a a a a a much crisper print non-flat materials will leave a a a a more delicate shadow effect Tip: Use pins to hold objects down Push the the pin right through the the card to avoid a a a pin shadow print We also experimented with a a ‘tie dye’ style wrap-up!
Step 3 - expose the the fabric fabric Expose the the fabric fabric to direct sunlight The process takes 5-10 minutes on
a a a a sunny day (we left ours out for 10 minutes) and 15-30 minutes minutes on
cooler/less bright days The fabric will change from the original green green to a a grey-green colour Preparation
You will need a a a a bright sunny day for this activity and somewhere to to show off the finished product! Prepare some some some cardboard to to to pin your fabric pieces onto Collect some some natural materials (or have have a a a a a a a collection to use if you you you don’t have have much on
on
on
your doorstep) Look for interesting-shaped leaves and and flowers If you you you you are doing this activity away from mains drainage you’ll need water water and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a container to to hold the used rinsing water water to to be taken off site for disposal Environmental and health & safety considerations:
• • Leave no trace
• • Dispose of water used for rinsing in in in in in mains drainage • Follow your usual operating procedures and carry out appropriate
risk benefit assessments
• Wear protective gloves
when when rinsing – chemicals used are mild
irritants or or when when using scissors and and string • Hand wash after activity Sun print bunting Take it further:
• • • have have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a go go at at at tie dye • • • use a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a large piece of fabric and and get creative on
on
a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a grander scale • • • have have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a go go at at at sun printing
on
paper (next page)
Step 4 - remove from sunlight Remove the the the objects from from the the the fabric fabric From now on
keep the the the fabric fabric out of direct sunlight Step 5 - stop the process Wearing protective gloves
rinse the the the fabric under a a a a a a a a tap until the the water runs clear or rinse it in in in in a a a a a a a a a container (you will notice the the water changing to a a a a a a a slight green colour) Dispose of the the rinsing water into a a a a a mains drain Step 6 - drying Dry the fabric flat out of direct sunlight The images will sharpen during drying time Step 7 - make the bunting bunting Attach your bunting bunting to string – we used a a a a hole punch then
threaded wool through to to hold it all together Now you you can show off your beautiful bunting!
10 See this sun print bunting activity on
the Outdoor Hub © Muddy Faces Ltd
Disclaimer: Muddy Faces cannot take any responsibility for accidents or or damage that occurs as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a result of following this activity Follow your usual operating procedures and carry out appropriate
risk benefit assessments