Make beautiful pictures with this easy summer craft
We might have found the perfect summer craft to keep both little artists and creative adults entertained for hours – cyanotype!
Cyanotype, also known as sun printing, is a great way to channel your artistic skills and play around with design composition and different mediums to produce some truly unique prints.
It's an early type of photography that uses photosensitive ink to create a print, and the best part is that it's super simple to do yourself at home! There's no need for a dark room or any specialist tools, all you need to get started if some cyanotype paper (check out our recommendations below) and the sun.
What is cyanotype?
Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that produces beautiful cyan-blue prints. It is a unique and simple technique that has been used to create print patterns for almost 200 years.
The process involves coating a surface, such as paper or fabric, with a photosensitive solution made of two chemicals: ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide. When exposed to ultraviolet light (such as sunlight), the solution dyes the surface blue, creating a print with good definition and an intense colour.
By layering items on the treated paper/fabric before exposing it to sunlight, you can create a ‘positive impression’, similar to the way that wax resistance is used in Batik fabric design.
Any areas of the paper that are covered will stay light while the areas that the sunlight can hit become darker.
Cyanotype has become popular with artists and crafters because of how versatile it can be and how easy it is to do. With a bit of creativity, it can be used to make a whole host of different style prints, from simple shapes and designs to more complex images.
It is also a relatively cheap process, you can easily buy pre-coated cyanotype paper or get kits to make your own for a really reasonable price making it accessible to crafters of all ages and skill levels.
A brief history of cyanotype
Cyanotype was invented in 1842 by Sir John Herschel, a British astronomer, as a way to create copies of his scientific notes. Herschel discovered that when paper was coated with a mixture of light-sensitive iron salts and then exposed to UV light, it turned blue.
By using contact printing (placing an object directly on the paper's surface) and then exposing it to sunlight, the area under the object stays uncoloured, while the rest of the paper with the cyanotype solution on it develops in the UV light and turns blue in colour. The image could then be fixed by washing in cold running water to remove any of the unexposed iron salts.
It was the English botanist Anna Atkins who popularised the use of cyanotype in the field of botany, using the process to document and illustrate plant specimens. She used the technique to create the first photographic book, "Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions," which was published in 1843.
Cyanotype was also used by architects to create blueprints, hence the term "blueprint", which we still use today.
Fun cyanotype projects to try
There are so many fun ways to work with cyanotype to make unique and creative projects.
Go natural
When cyanotype was first invented, many botanists used it as a way to create images of plants so why shy away from tradition?
Simple cyanotypes of leaves and flowers collected from the garden can make some stunning wall art. Why not experiment with using fresh foliage and dry foliage to see what kind of results you get, like TikTok user @daisybow_craft has done in the video above.
Try out a stencil
Cyanotype works by reacting in areas that are exposed to sunlight, so it works really well with stencils!
If you've ever used a stencil for decorating or painting before, you'll know that they are usually made out of clear plastic, this is so you can see through it to easily line up the edges of a pattern.
When working with cyanotype we need to make sure we are blocking any light getting through the clear plastic (otherwise, all of our design would be equally exposed).
The quickest way to do this is by giving your stencil a covering of paint – any colour will do; you just need it to be a thick enough coat that the sunlight won't be able to get through.
Get crafty with your Cricut
Another way to make unique cyanotype stencils is by using a Cricut machine, self-adhesive vinyl and an acetate sheet. Find the design you want to make and cut it from the vinyl using your Cricut. Weed your design and then use transfer tape to apply that design to an acetate sheet. Place your acetate sheet onto your cyanotype paper (use tape to hold it down at the edges if it's a bit of a windy day) and take it outside to expose it to the sun.
Switch up the surface
If you buy a kit to mix your own cyanotype you've got the freedom to try applying it to any surface you like. Paper and fabric are good ones to start off with, but if you fancy getting a bit more adventurous, why not try making a cyanotype print on wood or even ceramic or stone?
Think outside the box
Or rather, think outside the square! Who says you can only make square or rectangle prints – why not try changing it up and using cyanotype ink to make different patterns or shapes on your paper, like TikTok user @zooz.tr is in the video below. Rather than using a paintbrush to apply it, try out a stamp or a sponge to get an interesting texture and coverage.
Fun with fabric
Once you've mastered making prints on paper have a go at making prints on fabric. Make sure to place something underneath the layer of fabric you are working on (you don't want the ink to bleed through to the back of a tote bag or t-shirt) and apply a generous layer of ink. Layer up your design, expose it to sunlight and then make sure to give it a thorough rinse afterwards until the water is running clear.
Embrace the negatives!
One of the most creative ways to make detailed cyanotype prints is by using film negatives or x-ray films. Back before photos went digital, all photos that you had printed from the camera film also came with the original negatives. You could hold these negatives up to the light and see a duo-toned image of your photo, similar to how an x-ray looks.
Since film negatives and x-rays let through varying levels of light depending on what image is on them, they are ideal for using with cyanotype printing!
If you don't have any film negatives to play around with, have a search on eBay as there are always plenty for sale.
Best cyanotype papers
If you fancy giving cyanotype printing a try but don't want to mess around with mixing your own chemicals, you can get pre-coated cyanotype paper. If you want full A4 sheets of fully coated paper there are plenty of suppliers online to check out but if you want paper that is a bit more artistically made, Etsy is the place to look.
Cyanotype kits to buy
For those wanting to get stuck into the full cyanotype process and create your own ink to use on any surface you want, cyanotype kits are a great value for money solution.
Cyanotype FAQs
Can I do a cyanotype print at home?
One of the best things about cyanotype printing is that it's super simple to do at home. You don't need any fancy equipment or special dark rooms; all you need is specially coated paper (or a kit to make your own) which can easily be bought online, objects to create your design, sunlight to expose your image, and water to rinse your project off and 'fix' your design.
How long do I need to leave my cyanotype in the sun?
When it comes to exposure time for your cyanotype prints, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. The amount of time you'll need to leave it out there can depend on a few factors, such as how sunny it is and how thick your coating is.
As a general guide, try exposing it for around 5-15 minutes on a sunny day or up to 30 minutes on a cloudy day. If you find that the light conditions aren't bright enough for you to get a good print you can also try using a UV lamp or light!
How toxic is cyanotype?
Working with pre-treated Cyanotype paper is considered to be very safe as a craft medium. The chemicals used to create cyanotype solution are also considered safe and non-toxic, but as with all chemicals, it's always good to take precautions as they could be considered dangerous if ingested or inhaled in large quantities.
If you are mixing your own cyanotype solution, wear gloves and work in a ventilated area to avoid any accidental contact with the skin, ingestion or inhalation.
Is cyanotype permanent?
Yes, cyanotype prints are permanent and should stay looking as good as the day they were made. If any fading does occur you can try washing your print in a solution of diluted hydrogen peroxide, this should help restore it to its original vibrancy.
Why does cyanotype turn blue?
Cyanotype turns blue because of the chemical reaction that occurs when the photosensitive solution is exposed to UV light. The two chemicals used in the process, ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide, react to form a blue compound called Prussian blue. This reaction is what creates the distinctive blue colour of cyanotype prints.
Have you tried cyanotype? Share your creations with us by tagging @primamag in your pictures on Instagram!
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