Prêt-à-Porter Cyanotype Papers

[keithwms]

Alright, this is a bit of a cop-out, but, I am teaching a traditional b&w photo class and saw some negs that look like very good candidates for cyanotype. I do have cyanotype formula, but... my time is *extremely* limited in this class and I am thinking of just buying some ready-to-go cyanotype papers.

Does anybody have experience with these, are they any good?

I simply cannot fit a paper-coating class into this semester, these students are already learning everything from composition to develpment and wet printing... in roughly half a semester. And I don't have time to coat stuff for them. I'd just like for 'em to see that there is more out there than silver prints, and I'll leave the rest for a subsequent class.

Thoughts?

 

[smieglitz]

I've used readymade paper and fabric from blueprintables.com (before they changed hands a few years ago to become www.blueprintsonfabric.com) with a group of kids at a summer art camp and it worked fine. We used the materials to make photograms and contact print negatives.

I would say their materials aren't as good as I can make personally, but they still worked well. I've also used "Sunprint" cyanotype paper but didn't ever care much for it.

I'd suggest you let them coat their own papers. It's a great hook. They will get a thrill out of making the actual printing material and it isn't very hard to do nor is it very time-consuming, and it only takes a drying room that excludes UV.

Joe

 

[keithwms]

See, if they get something basic and cool, then they will come back for more in an advanced class! But I have very few hours of actual contact time: 1 hour of coating means one hour of not printing.

Thanks for your comments and review of some of the papers. I was looking at the fabric cyano materials at freestyle, they look like fun for beginners.