| A cyanotype is a cyan blue-colored photographic print | | | | The Cyanotype process is where potassium |
| that is made from the cyanotype process. The print is | | | | ferricyanide and ferric ammonium citrate are mixed |
| usually on paper but can be made on any surface that | | | | and applied to the surface, usually paper. The paper |
| is able to soak up the iron solution used in the process, | | | | dries in darkness. An object or negative is then placed |
| including cotton and wool. Cyanotypes were | | | | onto the paper and is exposed to the sun or other |
| precursors of the blueprint processes to be later | | | | ultraviolet light. The amount of iron on the paper will |
| developed and prints can be made from negatives. | | | | reduce and the paper will turn a blueish grey. |
| It was considered the first successful non-silver | | | | Depending on the amount of sunlight, this could take as |
| photographic process and one of the very first | | | | little as a couple of minutes to hours. After exposure |
| methods of early photography. | | | | the unreacted iron is washed off with water. Please |
| Cyanotypes were discovered in 1842 by English | | | | learn the full cyanotype process and how to use the |
| chemist, astronomer, and photographer Sir John | | | | chemicals properly before trying this on your own. |
| Herschel. Herschel was the renowned scientist who | | | | Cyanotypes are fairly long-lasting, as some of Sir John |
| told William Talbot and Louis Daguerre, founders of the | | | | Herschel's originals from the 1840s are still clear. More |
| negative/positive photographic process and | | | | modern forms were developed in time using different |
| daguerreotypes, of his discovery that hyposulphite of | | | | mixes of chemicals, but the process remains basically |
| soda could be used as a photo fixing agent. British | | | | the same. The cyanotype process was popularly used |
| botanist Anna Atkins, however, is given credit to | | | | in copying architectural plans but was made obsolete |
| bringing the cyanotype process into photography. Anna | | | | (fairly recently) by computer printers and photocopying. |
| is considered by many to be the first female | | | | Cyanotypes remain to this day one of the most |
| photographer, as she was the first to publish a book | | | | beautiful and unique processes in early photographic |
| exclusively with photographic illustrations. | | | | history. |