[alt-photo] Re: Alternatives to Ferric ammonium citrate for Cyanotypes?

[Loris Medici]

Aditya,

If are sure you won't be able to obtain ammonium iron(III) citrate
(brown variant also works), see this for a formula that uses an
alternative iron salt:
http://www.mikeware.co.uk/mikeware/New_Cyanotype_Process.html

This is an alternative (single solution) variant of Cyanotype.

- It's slightly more complex (and takes a little longer) to mix it
(you may omit the small amnt. of dichromate from the formula; just mix
enough volume that you will use up within 3-4 months if you choose to
do so)
- It's a little picky with papers; not every paper (few - depending on
the number of your options) work well with New Cyanotype
- BUT, "IME":
    - gives stronger blues (darker shadows),
    - is considerably faster (~ 2/3 - 1 stop, YMMV - that may be
important in some circumstances, especially when you know cyanotype is
the slowest alt. process...),
    - gives more delicate highlights and tonality (less emulsion
contrast and grain compared to the trad. formula)
    - (most important to you:) uses a more easily obtained / well
defined iron compound: ammonium iron(III) oxalate

Hope this helps,
Loris.


2011/2/2 Aditya Mandayam <mandayam at cs.stanford.edu>:
> Hello.
>
> Can the Ferric ammonium citrate in the Cyanotype process be
> substituted by any other chemical?
>
> I have acquired a bunch of Potassium Ferricyanide but cannot source
> the Citrate anywhere here.
>
> Any alternatives?
>
> Adi