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Cyaonotypes

Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that gives a cyan-blue print. The process was popular in engineering circles well into the 20th century. The simple and low-cost process enabled them to produce large-scale copies of their work, referred to as blueprints. Two chemicals are used in the process:
Ammonium iron(III) citrate
Potassium ferricyanide.

The cyanotype process at a glance
The cyanotype process is simple. It can be done easily in a few steps:

Mixing chemicals
The cyanotype is made up of two simple solutions.

Potassium ferricyanide and Ferric ammonium citrate (green) are mixed with water separately.

The two solutions are then blended together in equal parts.

Preparing the canvas
Paper, card, textiles or any other naturally absorbent material is coated with the solution and dried in the dark.

Printing the cyanotype
Objects or negatives are placed on the material to make a print. The cyanotype is printed using UV light, such as the sun, a light box or a UV lamp.
Processing and drying

After exposure the material is processed by simply rinsing it in water. A white print emerges on a blue background.

The final print is dried and admired.