Cyanotype: Printing with Light

Known as a photographic printing technique, cyanotype is a unique and easy manual process used to create print patterns, used by artists, botanists, and architects for almost 200 years. Through a photosensitive solution that dyes surfaces blue when in direct contact with light, it reveals original prints, with good definition and an intense, unique shade of blue. Xavier and Gabriela, professionals from the Fábrica de Texturas workshop, will guide you through a cobalt-colored journey through the cyanotype universe.

In this course, you’ll learn all the steps required to create your cyanotype prints with ease; from the preparation of the solution, to the creation of images on transparent media or photolith film, to exposing light and fixating color. Discover how to apply your prints onto different surfaces such as paper, fabric, wood, and ceramic, with the use of photos, plants, flowers, and even objects.

Start the course by getting to know Xavier and Gabriela and how they craft their work at Fábrica de Texturas. Then, discover the origins of cyanotype and its evolution throughout history, seeing the different artists that have applied this technique in their illustrations, architecture, and other areas.

See all the necessary tools needed to create your own cyanotype prints at home, and how to prepare the solutions. Learn how to apply them, using fabric and paper surfaces, as well as other methods to obtain uniform or textured results.

Learn about the sunlight process and how to use natural sunlight or alternative sources of UV light to achieve the right intensity and sharp results.

Xavier and Gabriela teach you how to apply the cyanotype technique in three areas: photography, illustration, and botany. First you’ll learn how to prepare digital photographic negatives using Adobe Photoshop, then you’ll do the same process using hand-drawn negatives, to then create your prints using plants, leaves, and objects, known as physiograms.

In the final stage, once you’ve explored the use of paper and fabric surfaces, learn how to use other porous surfaces such as wood or ceramic to create your cyanotypes. You’ll also learn how to modify your final result to change the tonality using natural and chemical elements.

Select a type of application (photography, illustration, or botanic) and media (fabric, paper, wood, or ceramic) to print your pattern using cyanotype technique.

For all those interested in learning about this manual photographic printing technique. Illustrators seeking new formats and ways to apply their work, as well as those interested in handicrafts will also enjoy this course.

Previous knowledge is not required, however if you have basic knowledge of how to use Adobe Photoshop and photo editing, this will help you in the third unit of the course.

As for materials, you will need: brushes, trays or rectangular containers, a syringe, gloves or tongs, paper and fabric, and it is essential to to course that you have A and B solution: ferric ammonium citrate and Potassium ferricyanide, which you can find in any specialized store.