Cyanotype: And Other Botanical Printing Processes

Unlock the joy of creating luminous botanical prints with nothing more than sunlight, plants and simple equipment.

This practical guide welcomes you into the world of camera-less photography and natural art, whether you're working at home, in the garden or the studio. Beginning with cyanotype printing, you'll build confident foundations on paper before moving beyond it.

Step by step, learn how cyanotype chemistry bonds to fabric, wood, shells, stones, leaves and other surfaces, with clear advice on coating irregular materials, maintaining contact, reading exposure through colour shift, and developing prints in water. Troubleshooting tips help you navigate failed prints and turn accidents into discoveries.

From there, you'll learn alternative processes, including wet cyanotype for expressive mark-making, botanical toning for natural colour shifts, lumen printing and cyanolumen using photographic paper and sunlight, chlorophyll printing directly onto leaves, and anthotype printing with plant pigments. Sustainability is woven throughout, with low-toxicity methods, recycled or readily available materials, and plant-based approaches underpinning every stage of the process.

With a focus on curiosity rather than perfection, this is an inviting guide for beginners and experienced artists alike. Cyanotype encourages you to slow down, work with what's around you and explore the creative possibilities of the natural world.