Digital Negatives and Cyanotypes (Jun 23)

Dates: June 23, 2024

Meetings: Sunday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM CST

Location: Houston Center for Photography + Hardy & Nance Studios

Cost: $210 Tuition + $20 Materials (HCP members receive a 10% discount)

Instructor: Laura Burlton

Skill Level: Open to All Levels

Discover the fascinating world of alternative process printing while exploring the art of crafting digital negatives and printing complex images onto cyanotypes with fine details and a wide tonal range. Modern digital technology and photo-editing software enable the making of negatives out of any image, whether photographed on your phone, your digital camera, or downloaded from the internet. This workshop guides students through the processes of preparing precise digital negatives, unlocking the potential to produce unique and expressive cyanotype prints. Students will delve into the history and chemistry of the cyanotype, mastering the art of coating paper with light-sensitive chemicals to create unique blue prints. By the end of this workshop, students will successfully print a selection of their images and have a solid foundation in the traditional cyanotype process, opening up a realm of creative possibilities.

Objectives:

• Expand your artistic background by reviewing the history of cyanotype printing

• Print beautiful cyanotypes using your digital negatives and/or botanical objects

• Understand how to choose images best suited for cyanotype printing

• Resize and optimize your image for print on a digital negative substrate

• Understand how color pictures will translate to monotone images

• Learn the process of selecting and coating substrates

• Practice printing cyanotypes using sunlight and/or UV light units

Prerequisites: 

Students need to have images they would like to print as Cyanotypes. Familiarity with Adobe Photoshop is an advantage but not a must.

Course Prep: 

Students should bring a selection of images to choose from on a flash drive. Students may also bring flat (low-volume) botanicals or flat objects with interesting outlines.