Combine sunlight with light-sensitive paper, and you have the tools to preserve the beauty of natural objects such as flowers, ferns and feathers. Sun prints, also known as cyanotypes, are some of the earliest forms of photography. These prints allowed individuals to capture the beauty of the natural world around them without the use of special photography equipment, and many of these early prints are still around today.
Sun prints are an easy-to-make project that children and adults alike can enjoy, and you don't even need a camera, special film or professional lighting equipment to create unique works of art to share with friends and family. While this project works best when done outdoors on a day with bright sunlight, the process will also work indoors using a sunny windowsill. Be sure to keep any unused pieces of Sunprint paper wrapped in a protective opaque bag away from sources of bright light.
Sun prints can be used in many different ways. The prints can be turned into gift cards, placed on the cover of a diary or journal or framed under glass for hanging on the walls of your home. If you choose to make gift cards, consider writing your recipients' names in white ink to contrast with the Sunprint paper's deep, cobalt-blue hue.
TECHNIQUE
Making Sun Prints
Materials:
- Desired object, such as a feather, leaf, flower or shell
- Sunprint paper
- Piece of cardboard or a board
- Piece of glass, cleaned and dried
Directions:
- To make a sun print, select an object you want to imprint, such as a feather, leaf, flower or shell.
- Taking care to avoid fingerprints on the surface of the paper, place a piece of Sunprint paper on a piece of cardboard or on a board. Set the object you want to imprint at the desired location on top of the paper, and cover paper with a clean, dry piece of glass.
- Place outdoors in bright sunlight (the process will also work on a cloudy day) or indoors on a windowsill in direct sun. After 8 minutes of exposure to the sun, remove glass and object from paper. Immediately rinse paper with water until the water runs clear. Hang paper from a hanger or clothesline to dry, making sure there are no puddles of water on the print. If the paper wrinkles after drying, place it face down on an ironing pad, cover with a pressing cloth and iron carefully.
SOURCES
Paul Grivell
The Sunlight Print Kit (Chronicle Books, 2006)
$16.47
Available from amazon.com
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