Shopping

That's right, I finally went shopping for more supplies.  The closest place (that I know of) that carries good quality paper is in Atlanta.  Even that is 2 hours away from me :(  I just hate having to order things off of the internet because then I have to wait about 2 weeks for everything to get here, and on top of that shipping costs are horrible most of the time!

Anyway, I went to Sam Flax in Atlanta, GA to get some paper.  I am still in my experimental phase so I trying to find the best type of paper that will give me the look I want for my Cyanotypes.

This week I am going to test out my papers and hopefully pick my favorite so I can get this collection on a roll.
I have tested (and only had access to) 4 types of paper: Rives BFK, Strathmore Drawing, Canson Drawing, and Arches Platine.  Out of those 4, the Arches Platine is by far my favorite.  The Arches Platine allows the image to show depth unlike Rives BFK which loses just about all mid-tones.

All of these prints are Toned Cyanotypes

Rives BFK - I like the color of the toned prints and regular Cyano but I don't like the dullness and flatness of the image

Strathmore Drawing - the paper tears too easily

Arches Platine - I love the color that this paper tones to and it holds the image very well

Canson Drawing - My LEAST favorite (of course the cheapest paper too)

Those prints were my very first experimental set - I took the same negative (in this case an Ortho Film Negative) and exposed each paper in the light box for the same amount of time.  Then toned each Cyanotype in the exact same manner.  It is amazing to me how each paper causes a different chemical effect. I love it!

Here are two of my more recent works:

Cyanotype on Arches Platine

Toned Cyanotype on Arches Platine - this one turned out very well.  I love the color

For both of those I used digital negatives that I made using Pictorico OHP Film.

Tomorrow I am planning on printing out new digital negatives and then coating a lot of paper so I can test out my new purchases :)