I haven’t made a cyanotype in more than four years. However, about six weeks ago an on-line friend posted a really nice cyanotype that he had toned with ‘sumac gall’. This piqued my interest and I have revisited the toning of cyanotypes.
In 2022, a book covering a new approach to this topic was published: Cyanotype Toning Using Botanicals to Tone Blueprints Naturally by Annette Golaz. I purchased this book and some botanical dyestuff materials from a local supplier, Longridge Farms .
This past week, I finally had some time to do some tests. In addition to the materials I purchased, I also tested ferns which were foraged from our yard and dried tarragon from the grocery store.
The results are pretty damn good for the most part. The ground oak gall and the walnut husks caused more staining of the paper than is optimal. This is a problem with the traditional methods of toning cyanotype. Other than that I am very pleased with the results.
The array of colors, all starting from the Prussian Blue of a native cyanotype is quite amazing.
My favorites are with the sumac gall. But first you have to find the galls…. 😉
Add me as a fan of the fern and tarragon toning. Although most of them came out “pretty damn good!”