cyanotype
Firstly, you mix a solution of potassium ferricyanide and ferric ammonium citrate together. The mildly photosensitive solution is then applied to a piece of paper, and allowed to dry in a dark place. Cyanotypes can be printed on any surface that is capable of soaking up the iron solution. In class, we were given negative portraits of ourselves on plastic. We then went outside, placing the paper with photographic solution on it underneath the negative image, and allowed it to stay in the sun for 5 minutes. The solution is sensitive to UV light, causing the sun to cause the parts of the paper that are exposured to change from a green to a dark/navy blue. After 5 minutes, you have to leave the paper to soak in water for five minutes, in order to wash off the excess solution. After this process has been done, you can stain your work with tea in order to give it a sepia tone. To do this effectively, you should leave the cyanotype in a tray of tea for about 5 minutes, (longer depending on how stained you would like your work to be). Finally, you hang your cyanotype and leave it to dry.