Why does my coated cyanotype look so wrong

[anh_thuy_nguyen]

 

 

<p>Hi everyone, <br />I have a question regarding the look of a coated cyanotype paper I did today. I have never had this problem before. In the past, I use solution A + solution B recipe (traditional). I just tried the New Cyanotype chemical kit today, from Photographer Formulary. I am pretty sure I followed the mixing instruction, but my coated paper turn out very weird.<br />(I did add more water to dilute the solution, and fully aware that it will lower the contrast) and used a foam brush. <br />The 1st coat (underneath is greenish), but the 2nd coat (on top) turns tan, brownish.. <br />I made a photogram with it under UV lights (5 minutes), my positive area still look tanning, instead of white on a regular cyanotype print after washing for 5 minutes. <br />I really want to figure out what could possibly be wrong? Here is the link to see the picture of the coated paper.<br /><a href="http://www.anh-thuynguyen.com/cyanotype#!__cyanotype" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.anh-thuynguyen.com/cyanotype#!__cyanotype</a><br />I would deeply appreciate your thoughts and inputs.<br />Maybe the container I used to store the chemical, I have no ideas. <br />Thank you, <br />Cheers, <br />Anh-Thuy</p>

 

 

 

 

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[lotuseaters]

<p>Judging by the brownish colour your paper looks pretty much pre-exposed to me. Did you you coat under darkroom conditions (red light)? The first coat will have gone green (the bits where there has been no second coat applied) because during the exposure it will collect a lot more light than the bits that were double-coated. Green is a good indicator for proper exposure. I guess the brownish areas did not get enough light. A 5 minute exposure using a UV light source doesn't sound like much - not for a photogram anyway. I normally expose negatives for a minimum of 10 minutes in bright sunlight (I do make my own solutions though). A UV light will need a great deal more time than that.</p>

[anh_thuy_nguyen]

<p>Thank you Tom. I have coated some under the red-light and some not. I thought it was alright coated under the overheadlight.. Guess not.<br>

I will take notes of that. Thank you. Thank you.</p>

[jim_read]

<p>Hello Anh-Thuy,</p>

<p>This is odd! The first coat sounds as though it was OK, yellow to begin with and drying to a light green, is that right? Then you added another coat and it turned brown?</p>

<p>Two things that occur to me is that you only need to coat the paper once. There is no need to use a darkroom with a red light, I coat my paper in the kitchen with the venetian blind closed and under the tungsten light on the cooker. When considering this process I find it helps to think back to 1842, no electricity and no running water. Think also of who actually did it on a day to day basis, certainly not John Herschel or Anna Atkins but their servants, probably uneducated and able only to learn and adhere to the simplest methodology.</p>

<p>If you can buy the chemicals individually and mix them yourself you can be sure that the mix is correct, do bear in mind that in 1842 the only FAC available was the Brown variety the Green appeared in the 1890's, either will do.</p>

<p>I have a website here with instructions, equipment and method there is also a link to a video I made going through the whole process: <a href="http://www.cyanotype.000space.com/">http://www.cyanotype.000space.com/</a></p>

<p>Best wishes - Jim</p>