Cyanotype is a kind of printing process that results in cyan-blue prints. This method was popular during in the engineering industry up until the twentieth century. Cyanotype printing is well-liked for its simplicity and low cost. It provides large-scale prints that are called blueprints. Potassium ferricyanide and ammonium iron III citrate are the two main chemicals that are used in this process.
Sir John Herschel, an English astronomer and scientist, is credited with discovering this technique in 1842. Although Herschel originally developed the process, he used it mostly as a means for reproducing diagrams and notes, including blueprints. Anna Atkins is the artist who brought it into the photographic world.
Atkins produced a limited series of Cyanotype books. In these books, she documented plant life. She placed her specimens onto coated paper, creating a silhouette effect in doing so. Through use of this photogram technique, Atkins is considered the first female photographer.
In the typical Cyanotype method, equal parts of potassium ferricyanide and ferric ammonium citrate are combined. The solution that is creative is partly photosensitive. It is then applied to paper, cloth or other surfaces that are receptive and allowed time to dry in the dark. Cyanotypes can be printed on all surfaces that allow the iron solution to soak in, including cotton, wool and watercolor paper.
Exposing the piece to ultraviolet light, through a contact negative, produces positive images. The UV light lowers iron III to iron II, which is followed by a reaction between the iron II and ferricyanide. The result is called Prussian blue. Exposure to sunlight, or other ultraviolet light, reduces the iron level and turns the paper a steel-gray, blue-like color. The amount of change in color is dependent on the amount of ultraviolet light.
When the exposure is complete, the picture is then developed by rinsing unreacted solution off. The blue color that shows up will darken as it dries up. Typically, the result that is sought out with this process is a blue shade. However, there are some effects and manipulations that can be done with this sort of process: toning, reducing, intensifying.
Reducing includes lowering the color of blue. This can be done using reagents, such as Dektol, ammonia, Clorox, borax, carbonate. It is important that the print is taken from the weak solution and put in a water bath so that it stops processing during reducing. Intensifying includes strengthening the color of blue. To initiate oxidation of prints, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, citric acid of lemon juice may be used. Toning involves changing the color of iron. This color change will differ based on the reagent that is employed, such as cat urine, wine, pyrogallic acid, Tannic acid or oolong tea.
Cyanotype printing is a process that was first discovered in the 1840s. This process involves potassium ferricyanide and ammonium iron III citrate. The effect of this printing process is blueprints, but there are many variations that can be done to change the appearance of a print. Anna Atkins, known as the first female photographer, was first to introduce this process in photography.
Sir John Herschel, an English astronomer and scientist, is credited with discovering this technique in 1842. Although Herschel originally developed the process, he used it mostly as a means for reproducing diagrams and notes, including blueprints. Anna Atkins is the artist who brought it into the photographic world.
Atkins produced a limited series of Cyanotype books. In these books, she documented plant life. She placed her specimens onto coated paper, creating a silhouette effect in doing so. Through use of this photogram technique, Atkins is considered the first female photographer.
In the typical Cyanotype method, equal parts of potassium ferricyanide and ferric ammonium citrate are combined. The solution that is creative is partly photosensitive. It is then applied to paper, cloth or other surfaces that are receptive and allowed time to dry in the dark. Cyanotypes can be printed on all surfaces that allow the iron solution to soak in, including cotton, wool and watercolor paper.
Exposing the piece to ultraviolet light, through a contact negative, produces positive images. The UV light lowers iron III to iron II, which is followed by a reaction between the iron II and ferricyanide. The result is called Prussian blue. Exposure to sunlight, or other ultraviolet light, reduces the iron level and turns the paper a steel-gray, blue-like color. The amount of change in color is dependent on the amount of ultraviolet light.
When the exposure is complete, the picture is then developed by rinsing unreacted solution off. The blue color that shows up will darken as it dries up. Typically, the result that is sought out with this process is a blue shade. However, there are some effects and manipulations that can be done with this sort of process: toning, reducing, intensifying.
Reducing includes lowering the color of blue. This can be done using reagents, such as Dektol, ammonia, Clorox, borax, carbonate. It is important that the print is taken from the weak solution and put in a water bath so that it stops processing during reducing. Intensifying includes strengthening the color of blue. To initiate oxidation of prints, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, citric acid of lemon juice may be used. Toning involves changing the color of iron. This color change will differ based on the reagent that is employed, such as cat urine, wine, pyrogallic acid, Tannic acid or oolong tea.
Cyanotype printing is a process that was first discovered in the 1840s. This process involves potassium ferricyanide and ammonium iron III citrate. The effect of this printing process is blueprints, but there are many variations that can be done to change the appearance of a print. Anna Atkins, known as the first female photographer, was first to introduce this process in photography.
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