What is cyanotype?
Cyanotype is an ancient photographic printing method characterised by the typical Prussian Blue colour. I had the opportunity to discover it at a cyanotype workshop in Kazanlak (Bulgaria).
What materials do I need to realise a cyanotype?
To realise a cyanotype you need some photographic negatives, thick paper, 2 chemical substances (iron ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide, the ones I used in the workshop) or you can also use natural products instead (for example coffee, green tea, black tea or turmeric), water, a wooden board, a plexiglass sheet, leaves and flowers (optional).
How to make a cyanotype?
Create a liquid mixture by combining 100 ml of both of the chemical products. Then, use it to soak some pieces of paper. Let the paper dry and don’t expose it to the light as it would get damaged.
Then, put a piece of dried paper on a wooden board, on top of it place the photographic negative. You can also add some leaves and flowers on the picture to add some shading to the final result. Close on top with a plexiglass sheet and some clothespins to avoid the passage of air. Then, expose it for at least 3 minutes to the Sun (this is the time needed with the chemical products). After, take the picture out and soak it in a water basin. You can move the container to create some little waves to cover the picture. Finally, let it dry.
Now, look at the picture you made: the result is magic!
