how stable is coated cyanotype paper ?

removed account4 · Apr 15, 2008

i am going on a trip sometime soon and was interested in
making cyanotypes while i was there. my hope is to coat
paper to take with me.

will coated cyanotype still be good days or weeks after coated?
and will unexposed cyanotype paper be effected by xrays and airport issues?

thanks!

john

walter23 · Apr 15, 2008

I've used cyanotype paper left in my closet for a couple of weeks. The only thing I notice is that the highlights become a bit veiled with time due to slight exposure of the paper (or maybe some other chemical reaction).

My closet is not light-tight (in fact, my wife always leaves the door open so weak filtered light is always leaking in). If it works under these conditions I'd guess you'd be okay for a couple of weeks with it stored in a light-proof paper box or something.

removed account4 · Apr 15, 2008

thanks walter

john

David William White · Apr 15, 2008

I know you can still buy blueprint rolls, so it should certainly be possible. However, any time I've hand-coated paper (with a brush) and stuffed it into a black poly bag, it has 'developed' on me within a week, so I don't know what the trick is. Maybe it's the latent moisture of the paper or the humidity of my darkroom, but I've learned I couldn't count on it. So easy to coat before use, anyway.

Photo Engineer · Apr 15, 2008

David;

Check your black bag. Many of them 'leak' light.

PE

Akki14 · Apr 15, 2008

Whenever I coat cyanotype paper, i leave it for ages and never have paper fogging problems. But I'm apparently the exception to the rule. I've taken to wrapping mine loosely in foil when i want to store it outside of my bathroom or hallway neither place sees direct sunlight (and very little natural light). It's a nice simple way of storing it when you don't want to use a plastic photopaper bag.

Robert Hall · Apr 15, 2008

If it's in the dark, I have used it after a couple of weeks, but it shows fogging. Sometimes this is not a bad idea since it is so contrasty.

Keep in mind that the stuff is cheap, but the paper you put it on could be expensive. I would just try to coat as much as I intend to use and toss the mixture.

Make sure you post some images after you make them!!

l8r

Phillip P. Dimor · Apr 24, 2008

I've stored it for 2-3 days inside of a tupperware bin with a large bag of _dry_ silica gel inside. Otherwise, the humidity begins to develop the paper. Atleast that is my experience. The paper turns turns blue-green and eventually a sort of brownish color, after which it is no longer sensitive to UV light.

I don't think i've tried to print paper that was older than 2-3 days, but I think the sealed container with dessicant helps.. Also ziplock bags are good too.

Russ Young · Apr 24, 2008

I have to agree with Mr. Dimor - my coated paper shows significant fogging and speed loss after three days no matter how it has been stored, including a plastic container with dessicant gel...

Russ

boyooso · Apr 25, 2008

What if you added a little 1% potassium Dichromate to "emulsion"? This is generally used to increase contrast and might help reduce fogging?

What size are you wanting to precoat and take with you?

Corey

boyooso · Apr 25, 2008

Also, I once took a sealed cyanotype kit from formualry to Korea with the intent to expose film, develop it and make cyanotyptes with my nephews... I had NO problems at the airport and it was in 2003...

Good Luck!

Corey

ChristopherCoy · May 4, 2020

BAM! Thread revival.... Thanks google!

John,

How long have you left coated paper in the dark before developing it?

removed account4 · May 6, 2020

Hi Christopher !
I have gone a few weeks but it always turns on me, and is never like it is when it is just coated. What I ended doing on the trip was I just took the chemistry with me when I was traveling. Sometimes its OK because as others said the classic formula I have gravitated to ( I averaged the 4 or 5 varietals and came up with my own LOL ) is kind of contrast-rich, and I don't mind non-blue funky tones.
sounds like you are getting the siderotype fever . and thankfully the only cure is to make as many prints as you can
John

ChristopherCoy · May 6, 2020

jnantz said:
sounds like you are getting the siderotype fever . and thankfully the only cure is to make as many prints as you can
John

At this point, that's probably a bit of an understatement. I actually didn't mind the blue as much as I thought I would. I'm doing my first negative test print on Friday from a 4x5 digital negative, so we'll see how that goes. But as of now, I can certainly see myself enjoying this kind of printing immensely. It was so simple. I didn't need an enlarger, or filters, or multiple trays of chemicals. I coated the paper in my bathroom and let it dry, put it in the contact frame, and then took it up on deck and let the sun hit it. I was really quite intrigued how fast it changed color in the sun. I wasn't expecting it to be THAT vivid of a change. The color change once UV hits it is a very welcome replacement "magic" to watching a print develop in the dark room. That was the part that I was scared of losing the most. That moment with the image just appears. But surprisingly the cyanotype has just as much magic, if not more since you get to see it change in the sunlight, and then again under the water bath!

removed account4 · May 6, 2020

love to read another person hooked

Peter Schrager · May 6, 2020

jnantz said:
love to read another person hooked

J. Nantz the pusher man!!

Máx Arnold · May 21, 2020

I use a special formula for making cyanotypes. the ferric oxalate complex is unstable and it gets fogged even while being on complete darkness. I don't store my paper, just coat and use straight away.
I want to do the same as you wanted, John. When I go onto vacations in summer I always want to print and I have no way... It's such a good sun lost...
But the chemicals I use are between toxic and scary (Never ask for a kitchen tray to put potassium ferroCYANIDE in your relative's house). I thought of doing the same as you, but as my paper fogs, and I don't stand it...

ChristopherCoy · May 21, 2020

Máx Arnold said:
I use a special formula for making cyanotypes. the ferric oxalate complex is unstable and it gets fogged even while being on complete darkness. I don't store my paper, just coat and use straight away.
I want to do the same as you wanted, John. When I go onto vacations in summer I always want to print and I have no way... It's such a good sun lost...
But the chemicals I use are between toxic and scary (Never ask for a kitchen tray to put potassium ferroCYANIDE in your relative's house). I thought of doing the same as you, but as my paper fogs, and I don't stand it...

You use them wet?

Máx Arnold · May 21, 2020

ChristopherCoy said:
You use them wet?

You mean if I print wet?
No. although the formula is sensitive to light while wet, the paper I use is very thin and it won't stand being pressed and handled while wet. Plus, I'm so messy with chemicals that if it was the case, my whole house would be spilled blue, I guess...

Do you use your paper wet? I'm interested on advantages of using it that way

how stable is coated cyanotype paper ?

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