By: Ashok Viswanathan – FFIP, EFIAP.PPSA

Cyanotype is one of the earliest printing processes, dating from 1842 by Sir John Herschel, shortlyafter the discovery of photography. It was the first permanent printing process and has a smallfollowing even today. It is easy to do and the results are beautiful and long-lasting. It was first usedby Anna Atkins who used the technique to document botanical specimens to make a book. It was apopular process for a short time and then died as other newer processes were invented.

Cyanotype prints are made using large format negatives that are contact printed to a paper coatedwith UV-sensitive chemicals. It can be exposed using sunlight or a UV light source of 10-50W.Exposures are by trial and error, but if using a UV light source it's possible to establish a baseexposure and then adjust for the negative density. The resultant print is bright blue or darker shadesdepending on the exposure. There is no “correct” exposure and the right exposu...