What is the cyanotype solar photogram process?

Cyanotype pictures are made by first coating the paper with potassium ferracyanide solution equally mixed with ferric ammonium citrate solution.

The paper then has a bright yellow hue and is dried down in a light sensitive environment.

Once dry, the coated paper is light sensitive and must be kept in a dark container. When exposing the paper in bright sun the yellow converts to pea green or army green wherever the light resist (or object being printed out) doesn’t cover.

The next and last step is the water bath and final print wash. Upon being immersed in the water the paper turns blue, and where the object was you see white with delicate softer blue shadows modeling the contours and cast shadows of the object.

One of the particulars in the process is the sun itself and how it moves with the different times of day and season; This dictates the ever changing possibilities to record light through shadow and form.

Arches hot press 140 wt & 300 wt water color paper and Unryu rice paper are used in the printing for their unique qualities and archival properties.