Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Cyanotypes: "C-Prints" aka "blueprints"
So I referred to the cyanotype processed print as a "c-print" on a phone interview today, and while I have used this nickname often with photo friends of mine, I looked it up and found "blueprint" to be the moniker of choice.
What is a "c-print" anyways? It is a blue/cyan monochrome print. An English scientist, Sir John Heschel invented the procedure in 1842; Anne Atkins, also a Brit, applied the process to photography by making several cyanotype books with images of fern and plant life. From this discovery Atkins became revered as the "first female photographer".
So there are 2 chemicals involved:
* Ammonium iron(III) citrate
* Potassium ferricyanide
When dissolved in water they produce a photo sensitive solution that is then coated on a material, in our class' case paper. By exposing the prepared paper to sunlight (UV rays) the UV reduces iron III to iron II, and then follows a complex reaction between iron II and the ferricyanide, which gives the print its Prussion Blue color quality. It's recommended to store (and restore) these prints in a dark environment.
I like and
Considering that last link: Can I coat a black colored paper with the cyanotype process chemicals and get an equally visible blue/black contrast as expected with the blue / white paper?
What is a "c-print" anyways? It is a blue/cyan monochrome print. An English scientist, Sir John Heschel invented the procedure in 1842; Anne Atkins, also a Brit, applied the process to photography by making several cyanotype books with images of fern and plant life. From this discovery Atkins became revered as the "first female photographer".
So there are 2 chemicals involved:
* Ammonium iron(III) citrate
* Potassium ferricyanide
When dissolved in water they produce a photo sensitive solution that is then coated on a material, in our class' case paper. By exposing the prepared paper to sunlight (UV rays) the UV reduces iron III to iron II, and then follows a complex reaction between iron II and the ferricyanide, which gives the print its Prussion Blue color quality. It's recommended to store (and restore) these prints in a dark environment.
I like and
Considering that last link: Can I coat a black colored paper with the cyanotype process chemicals and get an equally visible blue/black contrast as expected with the blue / white paper?
// posted by ZenScream2 @ 10:14 PM 
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