The cyanotype is often the first alternative process that people try. Digital photography has given this historical process new life. Now you can create negatives in your computer and develop the prints in the sun, combining one of the earliest photographic techniques with the latest. The cyanotype process is a perfect compliment to today’s digital photography, whether you are making creative prints or fine art. It gives experienced photographers and artists a great excuse to take their eyes off the computer screen and get their hands dirty.
Blueprint to cyanotypes is all you need to get started with cyanotypes. It is full of information and tips. It is also inspiration to see samples of 19 artists currently working with cyanotypes.
Blueprint to cyanotypes is published by AlternativePhotography.com - a website and information center for alternative photographic processes, dedicated to education and research.
I can hardly blame the authors, who are photographers and not designers, but the design and layout of this book left something to be desired. Like other books from Lulu, it seems like the book was "designed" using Microsoft Word, meaning that much of the typography is unappealing and difficult to read. Apart from the amateurish layout, there are also a few typos that would have been easily caught by a careful editor. I know this is the shadow world of self-publishing, so perhaps my high expectations are unjustified. But for $38 a pop, I hope the authors will hire a professional designer to do the layout next time around and give this interesting topic the treatment that it deserves. As for the utility of this book for making cyanotypes, it didn't really offer any information that I hadn't already read elsewhere, and the selected prints weren't exactly the best I've seen. So between the redundant content and the uninspired layout, I'm disappointed with this purchase. All in... More > all, if I would have been able to review a printed copy beforehand, I would have saved my money and learned all this stuff via Google.< Less
"Blueprint to Cyanotypes" This is fantastic book and I rate it 10 out of 10! For anyone starting out in cyanotype it is an excellent guide to making prints. Easy to follow, clear step-by-step instructions with photos and covers everything from mixing chemicals, types of paper or fabric used, exposing the print, different ways of making negatives, photograms, toning, safety etc. I wish it was around when I was learning to do cyanotypes. I strongly recommend it as a teaching resource and will be buying a class set. Wendy
"What a great book!" I started making cyanotypes just a couple of weeks before this book came out and I'm just shaking my head over how much I had to figure out the hard way. Even just having such high quality pictures of what everything's supposed to look like at every stage would have been a real help. The good news is that it also covers additional topics like toning that I haven't had a chance to try yet and now I feel like I'm ready to take those on!
"Blueprint to Cyanotype" Until I received Malin and Gary's book on Cyanotypes the only information I'd got was the 1947 BJP Almanac which devotes a whole paragraph to the subject, oh yes and a little book of formulae whose recipe was out by a factor of 100! they shall remain nameless :-) The subject is covered in great depth with detailed instruction on every aspect of the process, the work will be a reference book for the newcomer to the process and very useful to those with a good deal of experience. As well as being a superb introduction to the process the book will also be an inspiration to anyone who reads it. Until I read it I'd never tried to tone a Cyanotype, now I've done lots and they look great, as good if not better than Van Dyke Browns. Unlike the silver based processes Cyanotype is also eco friendly using only small amounts of water, a rinse rather than hours of washing. I think that the Cyanotype is well suited to industrial, nude and woodland images, one... More > can obtain a far better impression of the subject, one with more impact than a detailed photograhic print. Thanks Malin & Gary. Jim Read< Less
"Re: Good book for starters" Hi! Thank you for your feedback! It's a beginners guide, so that's why there is information to get started, and also relatively advanced information. An advanced guide is planned, where more toning and experimental processes will be described. Kind regards, Malin
