The great thing about the basic cyanotype is how safe it is for kids to have a go. I use the method described in Christopher James' book: The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes (ISBN 0-7668-2077-7), or use the technique on the Alternative Photography Web site. I don't find it necessry to use distilled or de-ionised water even though we live in a hard water area with chlorine added. I normally use a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in the final rinse to get a nice deep blue. I've tried other toners but they all seem a bit muddy in their effect.
I am poised to try the New Cyanotype, but the chemicals are not as safe as the traditional method, so this isn't one for the children.
Use your monitor's brightness and contast controls so you can see all 16 different shades.
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