Mike Ware Cyanotype

Single solution

MIKE WARE CYANOTYPE – NEW CYANOTYPE PRINTING

This formula, arranged by chemist Mike Ware, works with the same chemicals of the classic cyanotype, only in this case they are combined to make a single solution, stable over time, that you use to sensitize paper. The variation is the substitution of ferric ammonium citrate with ferric ammonium oxalate.

The process is a little more complex than the standard cyanotype, therefore we chose to offer 100 ml bottle of ready made sensitizer in the kit-section of this website. 

If you wish to make it yourself, here is the procedure (the chemical products you will need are available in this website in the reagents-section)

Chemicals you will need:

sol. A 10gr ferricyanide potassium crystals

dissolve the ferricyanide potassium in 20ml purified water at 43°C

sol. B 30gr ferric ammonium oxalate crystals

dissolve ferric ammonium oxalate in 30ml purified water at 43°C

add 100mg of ammonium dichromate to solution B e dissolve accurately.

Add solution A to solution B, mix well and let it cool down at room temperature. 

You will see a residual of green potassium ferric oxalate crystals that you need to filter and remove. Caution: potassium ferric oxalate is an extremely toxic product so you must dispose of it according to the local law.

You will have about 60ml of an olive green/yellowish solution, and after you water it down to make a total 100ml you will need to filter it one last time  and finally store it in dark bottle. You can use this sensitizing solution for up to 1 year.