Cyanotype Printing and Toning

Cyanotype Printing and Toning

January 18 & 19, 10am-3pm

$200

Instructor: Paige Billin-Frye

In-Studio Class

Cyanotypes are one of the simplest of the historic photo processes, a good entry to learning other non-darkroom photography. Developed in 1842 by John Herschel as a way to reproduce his mathematical tables, this became the process for making architectural blueprints of old. We will be using the same process, but with photographic negatives to make blue and white photos. After coating paper with the cyanotype emulsion and exposing our prints under UV light all it takes is water (and a weak acid) to develop the images. 

The magic continues when we will tone the cyanotypes using the chemistry of plants such as tea, grape leaves and strawberry leaves. The tannins in the plants interact with the iron in the cyanotype emulsion to change the blue to other colors. Each image becomes a one-of-a-kind work. We will also play with photograms, camera-less images exposed with objects placed directly on the emulsion-coated papers. Come prepared to experiment!

Supplies needed by participants:

Students should have black and white photos ready. This process works best with images that have strong contrast. Images with subtle tones do not translate well.

NOTE: 

We set our pricing to pay our instructors a fair wage and cover materials, but one of FBAC’s goals is to give access to the experience of all things bookbinding and printing to anyone who is interested. If you or someone you know would like to participate in a class but do not have the funding please reach out to contact@frederickbookarts.org and we will do what we can so no one has to miss out on the experiences we offer.