April 2006 Archives

The Cyanotype process has been around since at least 1842. The invention of the process is credited to Sir John Herschel. The images it creates are based on ferric salts that create the distinctive prussian blue tone.

There are numerous websites and books that outline various recipes or how-to’s on creating Cyanotypes. This how-to is mine!

The Cyanotype I make is made with a two part chemical solution mixed in equal proportions. I purchased a kit from Bostick & Sullivan which included premixed dry chemistry in bottles that I only needed to add distilled water to make into a usable solution. Very easy!

I ordered the A and B cyanotype kit, 3 glass amber bottles with droppers, 3 extra droppers incase I need to replace them and 25 sheets of 11.5x14.5 paper. This is enough emulsion for roughly 250 4x5 contact prints and enough paper for 100 prints.. It cost me about $60 USD, very cheap if you ask me!

The formulation of parts A and B contain the following..