About the Cyanotype Process

The cyanotype is a historical photographic process developed by John Hershel in 1842. Hershel is the same person who coined the term ‘photography’, and who discovered a way to ‘fix’ photographic images to make them permanent. The cyanotype is the original ‘blue print’ process. Anna Atkins was the first person to create a photo book, publishing cyanotypes of various flora in 1843. Cyanotypes are relatively easy, hands-on, playful, and low in toxicity.