Do-It-Yourself Media: Blueprinting

You can take photos even without a camera! With blue printing—also known as cyanotype—images are created on “magic paper” using light, objects, and water. Leaves, feathers, small objects, or cut-out paper shapes leave behind light-colored forms against a blue background. For children, this is almost a little bit magical—and at the same time, an exciting introduction to the world of analog photography.

What is blueprinting?

Cyanotype is a very old photographic technique. It was already being used in the 19th century to reproduce plants, drawings, or architectural plans. You may be familiar with the term “blueprint”—it comes from this very context. In cyanotype printing, paper or fabric is made light-sensitive using a chemical solution. Where sunlight hits the material, a blue color develops later. Areas covered by objects remain light in color.

Making “Magic Paper”

There are cyanotype kits available that let you make the “magic paper” yourself. To make the light-sensitive solution, mix two chemicals and apply it with a brush to watercolor paper or fabric in a darkened room. This is exciting for children, but should always be supervised by an adult. The chemicals are not non-toxic and can irritate the skin, eyes, or respiratory tract. Wearing rubber gloves, an apron, and, if necessary, a face mask, your child can take on individual steps under your guidance. Important: Read the package instructions, ventilate the room, and make sure your child doesn’t touch their eyes and washes their hands thoroughly afterward.

Alternatively, pre-treated cyanotype paper is a good option for getting started. You can order it online from art or photography supply stores. That way, the “magic paper” is already prepared, and you can get started right away with your child.

Here’s what you’ll need

Before you begin, have all the necessary items ready:

• Cyanotype paper—the “magic paper”
• Leaves, flowers, grasses, feathers, string, small objects, or cut-out shapes
• a surface, such as a wooden board or the back of a picture frame
• a glass panel or a frameless picture frame, so nothing slips out of place
• a bowl or tub of water
• Paper towels or newspaper for drying
• Sunlight or a UV lamp

Here’s how it works

1. Collecting Materials: First, gather the materials. Go outside with your child and collect leaves, grasses, or flowers. For the best results, it’s a good idea to press the plants beforehand. Small objects such as shells, stones, keys, toy figures, or buttons, as well as cut-out paper shapes, also work well.
2. Arranging Objects: Place the cyanotype paper on the backing in a darkened room away from direct sunlight. Then your child can get creative and arrange the objects on the paper. Cover flat objects with the glass plate, and place three-dimensional objects on top of the glass.
3. Exposure: Carefully take the whole thing outside or place it on the windowsill. As soon as the magic paper is exposed to the sun, the exposure begins. Depending on the weather, this can take varying amounts of time. In strong sunlight, a few minutes are enough; on cloudy days, you’ll need more patience. Watch with your child as the color of the paper changes, and experiment with the exposure time together. If the paper is left in the sun for too short a time, there will be hardly any contrast. If the exposure is too long, the contours may be lost.
4. Rinsing and Drying: After exposure, rinse the paper in water. You can place it in the tub or rinse it under running water. The unexposed ink residue will wash away, and the blue image with white shapes will gradually become visible. Place the image on newspaper or paper towels to dry in the shade.

What do children learn from this?

With blueprinting, your child can create their own images without a camera at all. In the process, they’ll learn in a playful way that photography always involves working with light and composition. Discuss with your child: Which shapes are interesting? What happens when a subject is transparent? How does the image change with more or less sunlight? How is a 3-D effect created? This way, you’ll naturally engage in conversation through small exploratory questions. Blueprinting is also a great way to talk about media: A picture isn’t just created with a single click. Photography requires a conscious choice of subjects, light, timing, and creativity.

Tips

Start with pre-treated cyanotype paper. It’s simple and safer. If your child really enjoys it and is a bit older, you can try a set of chemicals together later on. Set aside enough time for this and turn it into a little family project in the garden, on the balcony, or during your next outing in nature. You can find child-friendly instructions for cyanotype printing at knipsclub.