Project Learning Outcome Goal: Create by exploring a variety of skills and techniques

Anna Atkins – Algae, 1854

Project synopsis: Cyanotype is an alternative photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue print.

You will create a Cyanotype by applying a light-sensitive solution of ammonium iron(III) citrate and potassium ferricyanide to a natural fiber surface and then exposing it using UltraViolet light.

Remember: All Epic Design Quests require documentation of your design process. Be sure you are very familiar with the design process before beginning any Epic Quest.

Create your new project page titled Cyanotype. Now copy and paste the following as you will need to complete and correctly document these 7 steps on the your design process:

1. Understand the Problem
2. Research and Investigate
3. Generate Possible Solutions
4. Select AND DEVELOP Best Solution 
5. Model and Prototype (Create)
6. Test and Evaluate
7. Produce

PROCESS & INSTRUCTION

Student Gallery

     Design Process STAGE 1: Understand the Problem

1. Consider what the goal is for your Cyanotype?

• What is a cyanotype and what is unique about them (other than they are blue)?

     Design Process STAGE 2: Research and Investigate

• Cyanotype Notes (read or at least skim these notes)
• Who are John Herschel and Anna Atkins?
• How are you going to create a Cyanotype?
• What do you need to do for this process?

Please check out some of the Captain’s  cyanotype resource sites

     Design Process STAGE 3: Generate Possible Solutions

3. Use your own personal passions as Inspiration

• What do you enjoy to photograph?
• Maybe tell a story or record a moment and memory in a well composed image.
• Explore cyanotype inspiration from other photographers. Which cyanotypes interest you the most and why?
• Look at what HRHS students have done in past semesters – Student Gallery

     Design Process STAGE 4: Plan and Develop Best Solution

4. Plan out your printing composition

• Plan out a couple of shoots to create some possible images for your own cyanotype negative to be printed
• Create a High Contrast image as subtle gray values will NOT maintain details
• Plan how you will paint your light-sensitive chemical onto your paper. This will impact your final composition SIGNIFICANTLY
• Be aware of size restrictions – cropping to non-traditional proportions may cause print to be small (Your digital printed negatives can be a max of 11″ x 17″
• You should add additional contrast to your image before printing your negative because cyanotypes do not record as much detail in the middle values as a traditional silver gelatin B&W prints.

      Design Process STAGE 5: Model and Prototype (Create)

6. Begin production of your design

1. Images should be cropped to 11 x 17″ to fit on to printed Digital Film Negatives (High resolution export)
2. Images must be developed B&W to a higher than normal contrast as most subtle details in light or dark gray values will be lost
3. CREATE A NEGATIVE B&W Images in Lightroom or Photoshop
4. Turn in your final NEGATIVE image to be printed onto FILM by Coulson.
5. Trim all the clear edges off of your print or they will show on the final exposures
6. Plan out your painting of the Cyanotype Paper based on your composition design!!!
7. Paint three sheets of paper with cyanotype chemical – NAME ON BACK!
8. Take ONE sheet of cyanotype paper + One Plexiglass + One Negative
9. Develop 3 versions of your composition in the sun (to learn from each exposure)
10. Exposures usually range from 9-17 minutes
11. Carefully rinse the papers in a sink for at least 5 min to get ALL YELLOW rinsed out of paper
12. Blue values will darken as it dries
13. Hang to Dry overnight
14. Heat Press your final three prints to flatten and smooth

     Design Process STAGE 6: Test and Evaluate

7. Self-reflect on your final composition

• self-reflect and carefully evaluate your successes and difficulties?
• What are the prints strength & weaknesses
• Do you want or need to give it another try?

     Design Process STAGE 7: Produce

8. Turn in your most successful final Cyanotype Print

• Include a digital image (photograph your print) of your final print at top your project page
• Finalize Project Page with a thorough project reflection
  • successes
  • struggles
  • what you learned
• Turn in a self-evaluation form

COMPLETE: You need a fully documented project page including all scanned sketchbook work with captions. Paste the URL to your project page below and check that you have completed all requirements, then click complete.