Cyanotype Box — Iconic Blue

Cyanotype yields a characteristic Prussian blue monochrome, produced by the photochemical reduction of ferric iron to ferrous iron. Sir John Herschel described the process in 1842, and Anna Atkins published the first scientific book illustrated with photographs as early as 1843, her Photographs of British Algae. The final print shows deep blues against clean whites, with no intermediate tinted shades, which sets it apart radically from other polychromatic or pigment-based VP processes. Unlike gum or carbon transfer kits, cyanotype remains single-layer: one sensitization, one exposure, one rinse. It is the most direct entry-level process in the catalog, ideal for first-time practitioners exploring alternative photography without prior chemistry experience or dedicated darkroom equipment.

The VP formulation combines VP N°01 (ferric ammonium citrate) and VP N°02 (potassium ferricyanide) in strictly equal parts, mixed just before brush application on 640 gsm cotton paper free of optical brighteners. Exposure runs 5 to 15 minutes under a Luminograph A4 at 30 cm, followed by a 5-minute rinse in running water. VP cyanotype uses two bottles; support, film, UV source and tools are selected separately. Read the safety information on the bottles before use.