Cyanotypes tests

Pushing forward with the cyanotypes I want to make a large scale frame and wrap with cotton and make a print of a full length lace dress.






The dress I've chosen is high necked, long sleeved and floor length, this gives more of a full body impression than the test dress I used in the cotton fabric.

As the threads I've used so far have been odds and ends I need to find a suitable thread that I can buy in large amounts to cover the size of the frame.I also sourced my own chemicals on line as again I need large amounts.

For cyanotype prints a natural fibres are needed to absorb and take the colour of the solution. A lot of synthetic material will not hold the chemical.

It's important to test these before embarking on the time consuming task of wrapping the large frame.

I brought a large spool of "100%cotton thread" from amazon.










I did some test frames using the amazon cotton, some more expensive cotton that is only available in small quantities from the local habidashery ( it has a nicer , more muted cream colour in contrast to the bright white cotton from amazon)

Sample frames pictured with thread used






I also brought a length of linen just to see how the dress would print, how opaque it would be.

So on contrast to my first attempts, these tests were a disaster!

Samples during exposure( a piece of lace and an acitate copy of a Pinhoe image I took at newstead)












There are a lot of variables to this process, such as materials, light source and timings.

Based on my limited experience and online research my conclusions are as follows.

The amazon "cotton" must have been synthetic as although it took the chemical and after exposure I could see a clear imprint, during rinsing the whole thing washed off, the same as the synthetic cotton test I did as a contrast.

The more expensive cotton did take the print however it was very pale in coulur so must have needed longer exposure. The exposure time for all these tests was 10 mins in November mid day, intermittent sun.

The strongest print was actually on the wooden frame. Unvarnished it's absorbant and given me thought to try for another project.

Test results.









The second test - the dress on the linen I did inside on the bedroom floor opersit a large south facing window.

Dress during exposure 

I left this for 40 mins. I could see the colour change and a clear imprint of the dress. Again upon rinsing, the impression was not clear, howsoever the blue colour did take

But looked like a tie dye effect. My conclusion was that the large piece of fabric was not coated enough in the solution,

Also I think and outside exposure would be better and really need to choose my time wisely.

So moving on from this dissapointment I'm trying to source more natural thread.

Two problems is the expense and availability.  I woukd prefer to buy in person so I can see it first and ask the shop person for advise however I can't find a local habidashery that sells in large amounts to buy in small amounts is expensive.

To solve two problems would be to try a thicker and more inexpensive material such as string, hessian , linen or even wool.

String in particular would have more coverage so less wrapping time and easier to source.

I have prepared a few more tests.

Experiments round two...

This second lot of experiments so far have not gone well, after exposure i can see an imprint only for it to dissapear on rinsing.

At first I assumed it was the fabrics and thre thread that I was using that wasn't compatible.

 I have since used fabrics that I know have worked before.

So after looking at what I've done differently this time compared to last time and a bit of research online I have narrowed it down to a couple of potential corporates.

Firstly, this time I have been mixing the cyanotype chemicals in a metal bowl. A few websites I came across said that this could be causing a possible chemical reaction and causing the chemicals to go off before being exposed to sunlight.

Secondly, this time I had the lights switched on in the room that I used to prep my cyanotypes, last time I had the door open with a light coming in from another room so the lighting was much lower.

So starting my experiments again I'm going to use plastic containers for mixing and use a lower lighting.

The other variables different this time are the chemicals are a different brand the weather has been cloudy to counteract this I've been doing longer exposure times when Revealing the exposure before rinsing I can see a clear imprint but upon rinsing the whole thing washes away.

This is happened with all the samples have done apart from the hessian which is Holland to the colour of very very dark blue however taken no imprint from what was laid over the top of it.

The toll process has been quite frustrating and trying to figure out what's wrong at first I thought it was the twines and fabrics I was using as as a whole purpose was to find a suitable twine for the large work.

So back to the drawing board I will try and replicate how I made my cyanotypes the first time and wait for some brighter weather. As frustrating as this has been, it's been very time-consuming however it's still better than making the whole large frame for it not to work so I really hope to find out where I've been going wrong and get back on track for this large finished piece.

I'm running out of time but I really do want to complete this work and to see it as ive imagined it.

I suppose my first run of cyanotypes I could put down to to a beginner's luck, it's a learning process and I'm definitely learning, so I'm going to keep that frustration as part of this learning curve and move forward.