The initiative of World Anthotype Day was started here by us, and the first event took place 2022. This will now (hopefully with your support) be an annual event on the 3rd Saturday in August last Saturday in October. It is a global event, and everyone who is an experienced or aspiring anthotyper is invited to take part. The FIFTH World Anthotype Day will open in August. It seems like a … Read more
Cyanotype on glass combines photographic chemistry with the unique qualities of glass, but it is a demanding process that requires careful handling and a good understanding of the materials involved. Daniel Zilbersheid describes the preparation, chemistry, exposure, development, and finishing of cyanotypes on glass, including different approaches for controlling the final result. The process is intended for advanced users with experience in photographic chemistry and laboratory-style procedures. It involves hazardous … Read more
All you need to know about anthotypes – NOW AVAILABLE BOTH AS PAPERBACK, COILBOUND PAPERBACK and EBOOK! – expands the original publication into a more complete technical and educational reference. Building on several years of continued testing, teaching, and revision, this edition addresses chemical, material, and process-related questions that could not be fully covered in an introductory format. Edition 2 of the “how-to” book on anthotypes by Malin Fabbri … Read more
Vandyke Brown is a relatively simple and accessible historic photographic printing process. Could a small change in the way you prepare and store your Vandyke Brown chemistry help it last longer and reduce waste? Brittonie Fletcher revisits this familiar photographic process and offers a simple rethink of the traditional workflow. Rather than mixing a larger batch that may eventually go to waste, this approach keeps things separate and mixes only … Read more
How do you make a cyanotype that is over 2 metres wide? Elizabeth Bourne broke her photograph of the Eqi Glacier into 200 individual sections, creating a tiled paper negative. She carefully numbered, printed, exposed, and assembled each piece to create one huge cyanotype measuring 209 × 109 cm. Using seal blubber oil, glacial runoff, and the Arctic midnight sun, she also found a way to connect the materials and landscape … Read more
Once a year – on the last Saturday in September – the cyanotype gets special attention. Since 2015, this historic process has been celebrated worldwide during World Cyanotype Day (WCD). If you’re not already making cyanotypes EVERY day, this is the perfect time to start! Don’t hesitate to join in. Since 2022, artists from an incredible 71 countries have contributed their work to our galleries – proof that WCD is … Read more
Cyanotype is often thought to end when the print is washed, dried, and hung on the wall. But what happens to the chemicals washed down the drain? Aindreas Scholz looks beyond the finished cyanotype to examine the washwater and waste. Through The Ecological Wetroom and a series of experiments, workshops and filtration tests, the project makes these usually overlooked by-products visible and asks how to become more aware of what … Read more
Lumen printing is a simple cameraless photographic process where photographic paper is exposed to the sun. But the exposure time can greatly affect the result. Malin Fabbri shows how a short 5-minute print compares to 30 minutes, 2 days and – just to push the limits – an extremely long 2-month exposure time. See the difference! Writer and photography / Malin Fabbri Read the SDS (Safety Data Sheet) before attempting … Read more
Can a wet anthotype last longer? Anthotypes are known for their delicate beauty and their temporary nature. Made from light-sensitive plant pigments, they gradually fade over time, making impermanence part of the process. But what happens if the emulsion is exposed while it is still wet instead of allowing it to dry first? In this article, Chilean artist María Piedad Aguirre compares dry with wet anthotypes. She explores how different … Read more
Gelatin-acrylic sizing provides a reliable, non-toxic alternative to traditional paper sizing for gum bichromate printing. Marek Matusz explains how combining gelatin with acrylic medium improves adhesion, reduces pigment staining, and produces consistent multi-layer prints. He compares several formulas, recommends his preferred mixture, and shows how the sizing also works well for cyanotype, palladium, and gum-over prints. Writer and photography / Marek Matusz WARNING: ADVANCED USERS ONLY: This process requires experience … Read more
Want to explore an experimental combination of hand sanitiser and cyanotypes? Julie Mixon shares an inexpensive, accessible way to expand the traditional cyanotype process by introducing photographic color, layering, masking, double exposures, and other visual effects. Learn about the challenges such as paper expansion and image registration, and try a flexible way to experiment with combining photographic images and cyanotype. Writer and photography / Julie Mixon Read the SDS (Safety … Read more
Eco-printing is not generally defined as an alternative photographic process, but a closely related printing technique. it shares the same spirit of experimentation, natural materials, and handcrafted image-making. It also combines beautifully with processes such as anthotypes, which is why we want to share it. Yulia Kapustynska shares her eco-printing process. Writer and photography / Yulia Kapustynska Eco-printing creates images through direct contact between plants, metal, paper, heat, and time. … Read more
A practical guide to measuring cyanotype chemicals with teaspoons and tablespoons. Many cyanotype practitioners (I am one example) like to work with precise measurements and repeatable results using a gram scale, but beginners may not yet have invested in a gram scale. Fortunately, there is another option using spoons. I measured common kitchen measuring spoons filled with cyanotype chemicals 20 times each and calculated the averages. The results provide a … Read more
The anthotype process transforms everyday plants and food into beautiful, light-sensitive prints, but it is often slow and unpredictable. In this experiment, Mariam Matta set out to explore high-contrast, quick-exposure anthotype emulsions that could offer faster results without sacrificing detail. By testing a variety of plant pigments, alcohol thinners, and toners, she aimed to identify combinations that are both reliable and visually striking and shares the results in this article. … Read more
by Malin Fabbri Buy the Lumen notebook here – published by AlternativePhotography.com Lumen printing can involve a lot of testing, and photographic paper is not cheap. Keeping notes can help reduce trial and error and make better use of the paper. Record which paper was used and the conditions it was exposed. I tend to forget those details down the line. The notebook contains 50 pre-designed pages for documenting … Read more
by Malin Fabbri Buy the wet cyanotype notebook here – published by AlternativePhotography.com Wet cyanotypes are playful but unpredictable. For me, it is also one of the hardest processes to remember afterwards. By documenting, I have learned to “read” the finished print to see where I did what. I sketch the print in the notebook and mark where I added different additives. I write down what was added where. … Read more
For Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day, I thought it would be a good time to revisit the simplicity and potential of pinhole photography. It was a while since I made a camera, so it was nice to be inspired by Justin Quinnell’s pinhole resource and Heather Palecek’s article. Building a pinhole camera is very easy. Solargraphs require patience, but the result is a unique record of time and the movement of … Read more
Solarigraphy is a photographic method that uses very long exposures – often around six months—to record the Sun’s paths with simple pinhole cameras. Paweł Kula shares how it started with the “Solaris” project, which combines observation, DIY making, and global sharing. It reveals slow changes in landscapes and cities, while encouraging experimentation and an open, collaborative approach to photography. Writer / Paweł Kula Photography / Paweł Kula, K. Smoleński, D. … Read more
Gum printer and educator Peter J. Blackburn shares two simple, experience-based tips for making gum bichromate printing more approachable. He challenges unnecessarily complicated workflows and shows two options for lighting: The sun and indoors. Writer and photography / Peter J. Blackburn Read the SDS (Safety Data Sheet) before attempting to use chemicals and use the correct safety equipment. There is no shortage of instructions and opinions for creating gum prints, … Read more
Solargraphy is an alternative pinhole photography process that records the sun’s movement across the sky over extremely long exposures – from a single day to several years. Heather Palecek, artist and author of Intro to Solargraphy shares the method. The result is a striking record of time passing: glowing arcs of sunlight combined with only those elements that remained still throughout the exposure. Writer and photography / Heather Palecek “Solargraphy … Read more