Cyanotype 8/28/14
In history, cyanotypes were used to create blue prints, notes, maps, and document plants. People would press leaves or flowers onto the paper and would be able to have that design saved. For this process, we first coated one side of a thick paper in ammonium iron citrate and potassium ferricyanide. Once it dried, we put leaves or stencils on the paper. I used stencils. When exposed to ultraviolet light, the paper started to turn a rusty brown color. Since the stencils were blocking ultraviolet light from the paper, that part did not change color. After taking the stencils off the paper and rinsing it in water, the paper turned a bright blue color and the places where the stencils were turned white, leaving a cool-looking design. The leftover iron was easily rinsed off and the result was a neat piece of art.
What color was the cyanotype emulsion when it was applied to the paper?
It was light olive green.
What happened when it was placed outside in the sunlight? Why?
It turned darker green and then started to turn a rusty brown color. The ultraviolet light reacted with the iron in the cyanotype emulsion.
When your print was removed from the glass and the objects were removed, what did you observe?
When I moved the stencils, I saw that they had not changed color and were still light green.
Describe what happened to the exposed areas of the print and the unexposed areas of the print when it was placed in water. Why do you think this happened?
Exposed areas turned bright blue because the leftover iron residue was washed off. Unexposed areas turned white because none of the iron solution react with ultraviolet light. The substance was easily washed off and left the paper white in those areas.
What happened when the Hydrogen Peroxide was added the the water bath?
The exposed areas turned a more vibrant blue because the Hydrogen Peroxide sped up the process of the blue developing.
Any final thoughts about the way it looks, feels or your observations of the process?
This was a cool way to make a picture and it looks really interesting. I also have a better understanding of the history of photography.
It was light olive green.
What happened when it was placed outside in the sunlight? Why?
It turned darker green and then started to turn a rusty brown color. The ultraviolet light reacted with the iron in the cyanotype emulsion.
When your print was removed from the glass and the objects were removed, what did you observe?
When I moved the stencils, I saw that they had not changed color and were still light green.
Describe what happened to the exposed areas of the print and the unexposed areas of the print when it was placed in water. Why do you think this happened?
Exposed areas turned bright blue because the leftover iron residue was washed off. Unexposed areas turned white because none of the iron solution react with ultraviolet light. The substance was easily washed off and left the paper white in those areas.
What happened when the Hydrogen Peroxide was added the the water bath?
The exposed areas turned a more vibrant blue because the Hydrogen Peroxide sped up the process of the blue developing.
Any final thoughts about the way it looks, feels or your observations of the process?
This was a cool way to make a picture and it looks really interesting. I also have a better understanding of the history of photography.