Cyanotype Doesn't Have to Be Blue
Cyanotype does not have to remain blue. The characteristic Prussian blue is the natural colour of the image produced by the process, but a finished cyanotype print can be toned to create a wide range of other colours — from cool greys and blacks to browns and warmer tones.
One of the simplest ways to change the colour of a cyanotype is to use substances containing tannins, such as black tea.
Toning Cyanotypes with Black Tea
To tone a cyanotype with tea, prepare a very strong infusion of black tea and allow it to cool before immersing the finished print.
Better results can often be obtained if the cyanotype is first allowed to dry completely and oxidise — for example for about 24 hours — and is then soaked again in water before toning.
During the toning bath, the colour of the image gradually changes. The final result depends on several factors, including the type of tea, its concentration, the length of the toning bath, the paper and the characteristics of the print itself.
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| Toned cyanotype, photograph by Radosław Brzozowski |
The Limitations of Tea Toning
Tea toning is simple and easily accessible, but it also has some limitations.
Tea can stain the paper quite strongly. As a result, not only the colour of the image changes, but also the highlights of the print, which may lose some of their original brightness and cleanliness. The whole print may therefore become darker and appear less contrasty.
Toning can also take a relatively long time, and the prepared tea infusion is best treated as a solution for immediate use rather than as a toner intended for long-term storage.
Tea is only one of many ways of toning cyanotypes. Different substances and processing methods can produce a wide variety of colours and visual effects.
It is therefore worth remembering that cyanotype does not have to be blue — its characteristic Prussian blue can simply be the starting point for further work with the image.