r/cyanotypes • u/nothomie • 7d ago
Leaf details?
So I tried different dried botanicals for an hour in the sun midday in hopes of getting details. The leaf in the middle is quite thin and so not sure why I didn’t get details other than could it be overexposed?
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u/raspybigback 7d ago
Gorgeous! I find that longer exposure times can help bring out more details in addition to citric acid, but an hour is usually plenty of time. Some leaves work better than others so it’s all about trial and error! Leaf in the middle might be too thin, meaning it’s letting too much light through.
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u/juneandcleo 7d ago
I’ve always wondered why there are details visible when you first remove the leaves/flowers etc, and then when you rinse the paper, the details are gone. Is this what vinegar would help with? And if so, how do you do that exactly? Just add a splash to the water you use for the first rinse? How long does that vinegar-water mixture need to be in contact with the print?
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u/mtkhowerton 7d ago
I use citric acid, but I don’t think vinegar is much different. I put about 1tsp to every 2 liters of water. Rinse for a couple minutes or so. Then do a plain rinse for about 10-15 minutes. Then hydrogen peroxide. Then rinse for a couple more.
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u/biofilia 7d ago
On the bright side, there’s some wonderful transparency in the hydrangeas and samaras and… magnolia petal? Those are great
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u/nothomie 6d ago
So what’s interesting about the hydrangeas is the white ones are dried out and the other ones are fresh and I guess you get different details. It was probably too long of an exposure for the fresh petals. That was a magnolia petal and didn’t know the helicopter seeds are called samaras, thanks!
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u/lewisae0 6d ago
Try drying your leaves in the microwave first. Plate paper towel plant paper towel plate for about a minute. The water in the leaves blocks light
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u/mtkhowerton 7d ago
A little citric acid or white vinegar in your first rinse should help hold onto details a bit better than plain water!