Canon Skill
Discover how to make richly-detailed Prussian blue prints of random objects and photos taken with your Canon gear, with James Paterson
The cyanotype process is one of the earliest photographic techniques, yet it remains popular thanks to the simplicity of the process and the rich-blue prints that emerge. Paper is coated with the cyanotype solution, then exposed to ultraviolet light. Objects placed on the paper – whether natural things such as plants, man-made items or negative film – are reproduced in stark monochrome, the silhouetted details held back to white, while exposed areas bloom into shades of Prussian blue. In the past, its simplicity made it useful for reproducing documents of building designs, hence the name blueprint. These days, we can use the technique for enchanting arrangements and wall-worthy art.
The process is cheap and easy. Cyanotype chemicals can be ordered online for under £20. You can also buy ready-coated paper, but coating the paper yourself is easy enough, works out cheaper and enables you to create lovely brushed borders. Once prepared, we can expose the paper using daylight or a source of UV light, like a blacklight or UV torch. The relatively slow exposure times let us fine-tune the composition of objects and experiment with movement. With a UV light, we can also finesse our exposure by burning in areas that might need more light, or vignetting the edges. After washing and drying, we’re left with a beautiful piece of analogue art ready to display.
THE SET-UP CREATIVE CYANOTYPES
Get set up for cyanotype printing at home with a UV light
01 UV LIGHT
The cyanotype paper is sensitive to ultraviolet light. It can be exposed using daylight or with a UV light source, like the UV torch (a Convoy S2+) suspended above the print here. A small source of light like a torch creates hard-edged shadows that help create more definition in the print.
02 COATED PAPER
We coat paper in the cyanotype solution, leave the paper to dry in a dark place and store it in a light-proof bag until we’re ready to use it. When the paper is exposed to UV light, the solution goes dark. Any items placed on top of the paper block the light and show as white silhouettes.
03 SAFETY GLASSES
When using a strong source of UV light like the torch here, we should always wear safety goggles, because UV light can permanently damage eyes. Simple, plastic safety glasses will do the job. Even with the glasses on, keep your time under the UV light to a minimum.
04 ACRYLIC SHEET
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