Cyanotype Notes is for documenting cyanotypes made with negatives, photograms, or any other classic or new cyanotype.
There are more variables than we realise – paper, chemicals used, coating methods, exposure times, washing, toning, and more. Recording them helps build a reference you can return to when something works particularly well.
This notebook contains pre-defined pages with enough room to document 50 cyanotypes that will help you narrow down a universe of options.
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How to use Cyanotype notes
By documenting your cyanotype experiments you can easily see what works and what can be improved. The customised layout includes:
- Chemical solution mix or pre-coated – Regardless if you use pre-coated material or mix your own chemicals
- Substrate – Whether you work on paper, fabric or any other surface
- Coating method
- Exposure time
- Rinsing process and any enhancers added
- Toning
- Reflection – this is where you learn from your mistakes
A notebook for you to document your process
- Format: Paperback, 106 pages (enough space to document 50 prints)
- Colour cover, black & white interior
- Printed by: Amazon/Kindle and Lulu
- Size: 15.24×22.86 cm or 6×9 inches
- Publisher: AlternativePhotography.com (2023)
- Cover image by Martine Marie-Anne Chartrand
About the cyanotype notebook
Many artists begin their alternative photographic process journey by exploring cyanotypes. Although it is an easy process to start with – and often taught in workshops and schools – it offers endless possibilities for experimentation. Some artists work with negatives, some create art on fabric, and some bleach and tone their prints in every colour imaginable. Whichever path you follow, this notebook will help you keep track of your experiments, as it is often easy to forget exactly what you did once time has passed.
Cyanotype Notes has a customised layout to document up to 50 cyanotypes, including chemical solutions, choice of substrate such as paper or fabric, coating method, exposure time, and rinsing process. There is also space to reflect on the final results. A valuable tool for repeating successful prints, learning from mistakes, and developing your own process.
From Malin Fabbri
This notebook was simply born out of my own need to document and learn from my process. I used to always think “I’ll remember what I did” and then, a few weeks down the line, find myself scratching my head, wondering if I did add vinegar in that rinse or not or what the exposure time was. I find this a good way to keep notes and learn from mistakes and successful prints. I hope it can help others, too.
About the author
Malin Fabbri grew up in Sweden and moved to London in her early twenties to study. She earned an M.A. in Design at Central St. Martin’s School of Design, but publishing her thesis felt more like a beginning than an end. Malin decided to combine her academic and practical experience and started AlternativePhotography.com in 2000. The website still maintains its origins as a source of information and research on alternative photographic processes and now represents almost 400 artists. Malin actively manages the expansion of the site as editor. She researches alternative photographic processes, makes prints, and runs workshops.
Malin has also worked professionally with major media names such as Time magazine and CNBC Europe. She is the co-author of From Pinhole to Print and the editor of the alternative photography art book Alternative Photography: Art and Artists, Edition 1, which features 115 artists working in alternative photographic processes. Alternative Photography: Art and Artists, Edition 2 was launched for the 25th anniversary of AlternativePhotography.com in 2025. To show the creative width of alternative processes, the book Pure Inspiration was also written in two editions.
Apart from writing Anthotypes – Explore the Darkroom in Your Garden and Make Photographs Using Plants, which is the first book dedicated to the anthotype process, and the expanded version Anthotypes – The Complete Guide to Making Photographs with Plants and Sunlight. She has also authored Blueprint to Cyanotypes – Exploring a Historical Alternative Photographic Process. Malin launched World Anthotype Day, a global event where artists collectively research anthotype emulsions, in 2022 and from there compiled Anthotype Emulsions, Volumes 1-3 – the collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2022–2024, each featuring contributions from hundreds of artists.
Malin has a strong passion for alternative processes. She now lives and works in Stockholm, Sweden, with her two sons, Maximillian and Ruben.
Rated 9,46 - based on 182 votes
World Anthotype Day
World Cyanotype Day
@Paula, you will get there! One step at a time!
Really Interesting Malin
I obviously have a lot to learn from all these processes – mind boggling!