Cyanotype paper allows you to reproduce notes or diagrams in blue print. It has been in use since 1842 when Herschel developed it. It uses the action of light to create the silhouette effect. This process has been in use over years before the discovery of color photography. It does not require the use of camera to produce images and the resulting images are always blue.
It is a fun filled process creating images through a manual and natural process. This makes it interesting and rewarding considering that you will not require any machine. Caution must however be exercised to prevent blurring the images or distorting them. The surface is coated using a special chemical substance before exposure to UV light.
You are required to use the objects or their negatives before exposure to the light. The solution is then washed off the paper and pressed to reveal the image. This is how the prints are generated with the potential of uniformity. This is how people managed to reproduce images before the advent of photocopying.
Uncoated watercolor papers of all types are used. Coating is not preferred because it has the potential of interfering with the chemical reactions and thus affecting the results. You are advised to avoid papers that are contaminated with acid. Textile is a replacement but it must be made of natural material since the process does not work with synthetics.
Chemicals used in making the coating substance are mildly toxic and should be handled with care. This includes the use of protective clothing like goggles, masks and gloves as protection on bare skin. A premixed solution works best when the scale of work is not as much. Large scale users find customized mixing more economical and easier for their operations.
The chemicals mixed in order to form the covering substance are potassium ferricyanide which is added to ammonium citrate. Instructions on mixing and handling are provided and it is advisable to follow them. The mixture loses potency with time and should therefore be used immediately. This will guarantee reliable results.
Producing images using cyanotype papers is easy since only UV light is effective. This allows you to work in dark areas and freely at night. There is no need to use protective lighting in the process. Coating happens in a dark room before exposure to natural UV light.
Exposure can be done using a negative of the object whose image you want to generate or using the exact object. This could be a challenge considering that some objects come in large sizes. A negative will help you minimize the size and fit anything within a small piece of paper. The paper is then rinsed with clean water to remove the chemical and kick start iodizing process.
Cyanotype paper images will be clean only if you wash off the chemical completely. Too much washing is known to lighten the images printed. The image surface is then hang to dry in the sun or laid on a flat ground. The light helps in bringing out the blue coloration better.
It is a fun filled process creating images through a manual and natural process. This makes it interesting and rewarding considering that you will not require any machine. Caution must however be exercised to prevent blurring the images or distorting them. The surface is coated using a special chemical substance before exposure to UV light.
You are required to use the objects or their negatives before exposure to the light. The solution is then washed off the paper and pressed to reveal the image. This is how the prints are generated with the potential of uniformity. This is how people managed to reproduce images before the advent of photocopying.
Uncoated watercolor papers of all types are used. Coating is not preferred because it has the potential of interfering with the chemical reactions and thus affecting the results. You are advised to avoid papers that are contaminated with acid. Textile is a replacement but it must be made of natural material since the process does not work with synthetics.
Chemicals used in making the coating substance are mildly toxic and should be handled with care. This includes the use of protective clothing like goggles, masks and gloves as protection on bare skin. A premixed solution works best when the scale of work is not as much. Large scale users find customized mixing more economical and easier for their operations.
The chemicals mixed in order to form the covering substance are potassium ferricyanide which is added to ammonium citrate. Instructions on mixing and handling are provided and it is advisable to follow them. The mixture loses potency with time and should therefore be used immediately. This will guarantee reliable results.
Producing images using cyanotype papers is easy since only UV light is effective. This allows you to work in dark areas and freely at night. There is no need to use protective lighting in the process. Coating happens in a dark room before exposure to natural UV light.
Exposure can be done using a negative of the object whose image you want to generate or using the exact object. This could be a challenge considering that some objects come in large sizes. A negative will help you minimize the size and fit anything within a small piece of paper. The paper is then rinsed with clean water to remove the chemical and kick start iodizing process.
Cyanotype paper images will be clean only if you wash off the chemical completely. Too much washing is known to lighten the images printed. The image surface is then hang to dry in the sun or laid on a flat ground. The light helps in bringing out the blue coloration better.
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