Contrasty Cyanotypes

Ronald Connelly (ronconn@u.washington.edu)
Mon, 24 Feb 1997 09:44:17 -0800 (PST)

I spent last weekend making my first cyanotypes. Before starting, I read
the relevant sections of Keepers of Light and read just about every
posting on cyanotypes and enlarging negatives in the alt-photo archives. I
didn't expect to get perfect prints my first try, but the problem I'm
having is the opposite of what I'd expect. My cyanotypes are extremely
contrasty, much more contrasty than silver gelatine prints of the same
images. Isn't cyanotype supposed to have a longer range than silver? I get
about 7 steps of a Stouffer 21 step to print.

I'm using the Photographer's Formulare cyanotype kit, which uses the same
formula as in Keepers of Light. I'm printing on Arches Cover. I'll try
other papers to see if my results change. Does anyone have any suggestions
as to what I might be doing wrong? Oh, my prints took about an hour to
expose in Seattle's February sun. Isn't this a bit long? Any less, and my
highlights washed away.

Ron Connelly