Cyanotype

What you will need:

Cyanotype paper (I use this SunPrint Paper Kit )

Objects of your choosing (botanicals, etc)

A piece of cardboard

Access to a sink

Towel, paper towels, or cardboard for drying station

A sunny day!

Choose your objects. I lean towards botanicals, but you can use anything that floats your boat.

Once the paper hits the light it will start to develop, so a trick is to work on your layout before putting it on the paper.

Once you have your design, place a sheet of the paper on a piece of cardboard, layout your design, cover with the acrylic sheet (you don’t have to use this), and take outside to the sunshine. Keep an eye on the angle of the sun, and adjust for the aspect you like. Set a timer for 4 minutes. Once done, bring it back inside and rinse under cold water for 1-2 minutes, then lay flat on towel, paper towels, or another piece of cardboard. You will start to see the deep Prussian blue emerge! When dry, you can frame it!

The kits are easy, but if you find this is your cup of tea, you can purchase chemicals and make your own paper or use on fabrics.

For those that want to dive a little deeper, here is a link with an article about Anna Atkins. In 1843, she used Cyanotype to make the first printed book illustrated with photographs.