Cyanotypes are a photographic printing process which produce a blue coloured print. The equipment you need are: Ferric ammonium citrate (green) Potassium ferricyanide Water Scale or measuring spoons Measuring jug 3 glass containers for mixing ingredients Plastic spoons Goggles Rubber gloves Apron or old shirt Brushes or coating rod Clothes pegs Glass or a contact print frame Sunshine or a UV light source
They are made with two chemicals called Potassium ferricyanide and Ferric ammonium citrate. They are both mixed separately with water and then blended together in equal parts. Then you get paper or card and coat it in the solution using a paint brush. It is then dried in the dark. Place a piece of glass over and behind the paper. Expose it to UV light and place the object you want to print onto it. It may take a few minutes, or even hours. When the print has been exposed, process it by placing it in cold water. Wash it for about 5 minutes, until all the chemicals are removed and water runs clear. Hang it to dry and wait for the photo to dry.
Anna Atkins
Anna Atkins was an English photographer. Some say she is the first woman to create a book. Some also say she is the first person to ever take a photograph. In her books, she would take pictures of plants and nature. However, her work with cyanotypes is her most popular work. Her father was a scientist, so she grew up around all different types of chemicals and scientific equipment.