Cyanotype Fabric- Process of Doing Cyanotype on Fabric
by
G. Smitty
The process in which photographs are printed in cyan-blue print is termed as cyanotype. This dates back to 1842 when Sir John Herschel discovered this process. But the credit of actually using this in the field of photography goes to Anna Atkins. Any absorbent surface, including cards, textiles, ceramic, wood, leather and paper, can be used for creating cyanotype. It can also be created on cyanotype fabric.
Cyanotype photography is very easy and unique. There are very few steps involved in it. The process of cyanotype printing makes use of two chemicals Potassium ferricyanide and Ammonium iron (III) citrate. The chemicals are turned into solutions by mixing them with water. Cyanotypes can be created on any surface that is able to soak up the iron solutions. After treating the surface they are dried in a dark place and then they are exposed in the sun. Then follows thorough rinsing in water and a beautiful image in blue is created.
Cyanotype fabrics could be silk, cotton or any fabric made of natural fiber. Basically blueprints on fabric are used for making scarves, skirts, bed sheets, T-shirts, quilts, and art pieces. In simple words, cyanotype is a printed photograph on a blue background printed in white on fabric or paper using chemicals.
Cyanotype process on fabric steps:
-Treat the fabric with chemicals and sensitize the cloth.
-Cut the fabric depending on what size you need in a dark room
-Using a foam board pin the fabric stretched slightly
-The design elements that you wish to use must be laid in the desired fashion and pinned well to the fabric. If you are laying some leaves, place a glass sheet over them so that they are flattened.
-Shift the board into the sun
-Give it a good 10-15 minutes and you will see the green fabric turning blue
-Again shift the board in the dark room and remove the various elements from the fabric.
-After wearing rubber gloves rinse the fabric very well two to three times
-Squeeze out excess water from the fabric and leave it to dry in a dark area.
-Using a dry iron press the fabric.
Tips for Cyanotype printing on fabric:
1. Ensure that the fabric is completely dry during the entire process. Even your hands must be dry when you handle the fabric. Even when you place the fabric for drying, the surface must be dry.
2. First you must practice on a little piece of fabric to learn the process. This will ensure that your final product has no errors.
3. Initially the fabric will be yellow-green in color before it is exposed. Only after the fabric is printed, rinsed and completely dried the blue color will be visible.
4. You could design whatever you wish on the cyanotype fabric. Creativity is up to your imagination. You could create drawings, leaves, lace, confetti, feathers, toys or whatever you wish to.
5. If you use about 3% of Hydrogen Peroxide while rinsing the fabric in water, it will give you a beautiful deep blue color.
Photographs created on cyanotype fabric are really beautiful and are sure to earn you praises and compliments!
At Cyanotype.net, you’ll learn all about
cyanotype fabric
and
cyanotype paper
.
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