Cyanotype Swap

For this swap you will make a cyanotype print which is 4x6" or bigger. Print image is sender's choice. You will have 2 swap partners. It's pretty easy to make multiple copies so if people prefer, I can raise this to more partners. It's also international since it's pretty cheap to mail.

I'm going to make the signup longer so that people have time to order the chemicals and get everything ready. And of course feel free to start printing after you sign up.

I'll be reviewing profiles to make sure you don't have any recent negative ratings. Newbies welcome, as everyone says, please don't flake on your partner.

I've been doing a lot of these and once you get started, it's really cheap and easy. You can order the chemicals from B&H or find them at a local darkroom supply.

You will also need a flat board, I used an old cutting board, a piece of glass larger than your print paper, I borrowed mine out of a photograph frame, and paper.

And a negative which will be a contact print so it needs to be at least 4x6 for this swap. I've done this a couple ways. You can print a black and white image inverted onto a transparancy, or you can print or draw onto tracing paper (and just expose a bit longer). Another alternative is to cut out shapes or place objects directly on the paper. (aka sunprints) I've had more success with objects which will lay flat on the paper in close contact. So in example, lace worked really well. I had varied results with flowers.

I use photo chemical trays for rinsing the print, but if you do a smaller sized print like a 4x6 you can just do it in the sink (but remember to use filtered water).

I have had consistent results with Canson student charcoal paper, or Canson Ingres paper. (it has little line watermarks if you hold it up to the light). I believe both of these are gelatin sized which helps keep it consistant. You do need to use a paper that is going to withstand a lot of rinsing, usually it takes 5-10 minutes to get the solution out of the paper. I usually rinse it until the water stops being yellow, and then leave it in a tray of clean water for another 5 minutes. I've also found that some washi paper works pretty well. And other kinds seem to react with the chemicals, sometimes in interesting ways. Plain paper, or copy paper will not hold up during the washing process, and also it doesn't seem to be a good surface for the chemicals either.

I have several cyanotype prints for sale http://trollop.etsy.com if you want to see what they look like.

If you have any questions about how to do this please feel free to email me.

Detailed instructions are here: http://www.alternativephotography.com/process_cyanotype.html

I have been doing the original cyanotype process. There's also the "new" cyanotype process which I haven't tried yet. I've been using: Photographers' Formulary Liquid Cyanotype Printing Kit, it costs about $20 and will make a lot of prints. It says 50 8x10 sized prints, but I suspect it may make a few more than that. Here's the link to B&H http://www.bhphotovideo.com just type cyanotype in the search.

Edited... Changing it so there's a month to work on it!