How to Make Cyanotypes

You might be asking how to make cyanotypes? Let me tell you first what a cyanotype is...Cyanotypes are an old photography/printmaking process that involves creating a blueprint with exposure from the sun or UV light. The process uses two chemicals: ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide. The process was discovered in 1842. Read on to learn from artist Jackie Partridge as she reviews the process of how to make cyanotypes!

How to make cyanotypes- this wheat print is being washed to remove chemicals

Fun Fact About Cyanotypes

Cyanotypes were used to create house blueprints and that’s how the blueprint got its name. Of course blueprints are created digitally nowadays. 

Materials for How to Make Cyanotypes:

• Paper or fabric

• Plastic gloves

• brush/sponge

• Container of water for rinsing 

• Water

• Chemicals: ferric ammonium citrate and potassium ferricyanide

• plants/flowers to create the prints

• A sheet of glass or plexiglass

How to Make Cyanotypes:

1. Mix the chemical solution in the dark by mixing half and half of each chemical

2. Apply the chemical solution with a brush/sponge to the paper or fabric (thin and even coat)

3. Let the paper dry for a few hours in the dark

4. Store paper somewhere the light can’t get it

5. Fill a container of water to rinse the prints 

6. Lay your coated paper in the sun and add your botanicals on top - can add a sheet of glass or plexiglass to keep the plants secure

7. Set a timer and test your exposure times between 3-30min. (3min if it is full and direct sun)

8. Rinse the paper in the water and let the paper dry (Make sure all yellow residue is off)

Learn about my wildflower cyanotype project here!

Creating cyanotypes is a bit of an art and science. There is a lot of testing and experimenting to see what works. To learn more about this process you can purchase a detailed lesson with instructions, tips, video tutorial and examples for cyanotypes here: 

My Favourite Cyanotype Prints

These links are affiliate links meaning I get a small commission when you purchase from this link! Thank you!

Pine Branch Framed Mini Print

Palm Leaf Wall Clock

Palm Leaf Fanny Pack

Palm Leaf Backpack

Palm Leaf Unisex V-neck T-shirt

Daisy Duffle Bag

Fern Mug

Wheat Throw Pillow

Cyanotype Prints by Jackie Partridge

In my new series called Garden Prints- I use the cyanotype process to create these original prints. Each one is slightly different. I use foraged plants and flowers from my mother’s and grandmother’s garden to create these special prints. 

Related Articles:

Learn how to make paper out of blue jeans

Learn how to make paper out of plants

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Check out my Cyanotype Prints- here!
You can check out other art in my shop -here!

Shop Cyanotype Daisy Cards -here!

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How to make cyanotypes - lay flowers (forget me nots) on the coated paper and cover with glass in the sun

Paper Making with Recycled Blue Jeans

Paper making with recycled blue jeans is a time consuming process but it also a rewarding process. I love being sustainable in my art practice and using recycled blue jeans to make paper is exciting! I will show you how to make paper with recycled blue jeans in this post! I started paper making in 2015, where I was working as a teaching assistant in a paper making class during my MFA. See some behind the scenes about the process of paper making below!

How to Make Paper Out of Recycled Blue Jeans -What You Need

• a hollander beater

• water

• a vat (plastic tub that is shallow)

• mould and deckle

• felts

• sponge

• jeans that are 100% cotton (they must be 100%)

• Check out this article for other paper making supplies you need!

The Process for Making Paper out of Recycled Denim

Denim Doily -Medium

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You can make paper with found denim as long as the fibres are 100% cotton. In order to make paper out of fabric the fibres need to be natural and not include synthetic fibres. Now a days it can be hard to find blue jeans like that!

Above is an image from the paper making process —> turning denim —> tiny strands of thread —> to pulp —> to paper

Steps for Paper Making with Recycled Blue Jeans:

In order to make the denim paper the blue jeans must be collected rinsed with water (this removes the laundry detergent so the pulp isn’t foamy) and cut into tiny 1cmx 1cm squares. I sort my denim by shade of blue jeans this will get you different blues in your paper. You will have to rinse the jeans in the washing machine with no detergent for a couple cycles to remove any soap residue. If you don’t properly wash the denim you will get lots of foam and bubbles when you run them through the hollander beater. After the squares are cut they are put into a beater that grinds the natural fibres into tiny blue threads.

After the pulp is beaten down to tiny threads (taking around 4 hours or longer). The longer you beat the denim pulp the less threads appear in the paper. The pulp is added into a vat of water and a mould and deckle are used to create sheets of paper. You will scoop the recycled blue jean denim pulp with a mould and deckle in the vat of water and pull a sheet. Then remove the top mould and press the screen on sheets of felt squeezing out excess water. You can also press down with a dry sponge. Layer a felt of the wet sheets of paper. Then place the stack of felts and blue jean paper in a press to squeeze out extra water. Remove sheets of paper and dry them by hanging or in a flat dryer. It will take over 24 hours to dry.

A handful of denim pulp

Here is abaca paper mixed with denim pulp in a mould and deckle (this forms the shape of the paper)

Leftover pulp dries and water can be added to make it pulp again!

I invite you to take a look at the handmade paper I sell in my shop. Check out my beautiful handmade paper art here!

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Handmade paper making supplies you need

Remnants Artwork made with handmade denim paper

Sediment -denim paper installation

See current work here!

Learn how to make paper out of plants

How to frame cyanotypes

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Marbled Denim Paper

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Sediment -Art Installation by Jackie Partridge

Sediment art installation by Jackie Partridge was started in 2017. I started paper making in 2015 where I was working as a teaching assistant in a paper making class during my MFA. See some behind the scenes look at a current project and learn about the process of paper making below!

Sediment is an ongoing art installation since 2017 where I form sheets of handmade paper with blue jeans from my grandfather. Currently there are about 300 pieces of handmade paper.

My grandfather is a retired farmer who sold the family owned century farm in 2012.

The paper acts as a memory and are stacked on the floor like waves in the water.

This piece is inspired by the artwork Remnants that also used old farming clothes belonging to my grandfather.

Learn how to make paper out of denim here! This explains the process for making this artwork.

In order to make the denim paper the blue jeans must be collected rinsed with water and cut into tiny 1”x1” squares. After the squares are cut they are put into a beater that grinds the natural fibres into tiny blue threads.

The paper making process- denim pulp

After the pulp is beaten down to tiny threads (taking around 4 hours or longer) The pulp is added into a vat of water and a mould and deckle are used to create sheets of paper.

This is the mould and deckle used to create the circle sheets of paper

Marbled Denim Paper

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I invite you to take a look at the handmade paper I sell in my shop. Check out my beautiful handmade paper art here!

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Pocket Full of Sunshine

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