AlternativePhotography.com

Historical photographic methods in use today – the art, processes and techniques of alternative photography

Hello All,

First, thanks to everyone for a very informative website and forum. So inspiring in fact, that my fiancee and have endeavored to make wedding invitations using the cyanotype II kit from Bostick and Sullivan. For the card stock we have purchased discount strathmore watercolor card stock, which is described as 140 lb, acid-free, cold pressed paper (Something akin to Strathmore 400). In our experiments, we have been marginally satisfied with the image contrast however the bigger problem is that most of first batch were afflicted by brown splotches. This occurs even after a very thorough rinse and drying and also regardless of whether we print on the the smooth or rough side of the paper. Is there anything to be done to improve the performance with our existing paper? The splotches are apparent immediately after we expose the image.

Any advice?

Thanks for your help,
Jillian and Andrew

Hi Jillian and Andrew,

I can't help you much here. First of all, I use the Photographer's Formulary cyanotype kit and I haven't seen anything like what you describe after making a thousand or so cyanotypes.

Have you contacted B&S directly? If you haven't, I suggest you do as I have heard that they are extremely customer focused. Best wishes for your wedding.

Regards, Art.

"discount strathmore watercolor card stock, which is described as 140 lb, acid-free, cold pressed paper"

This is likely your problem. The buffers used to make the paper "acid-free" are likely interacting negatively with the cyanotype chemicals.