Calibrated "Simple Cyanotype" one bottle chemistry method

We calibrated Mike Ware's "Simple Cyanotype" one bottle chemistry method at an exposure scale of 2.70. We printed several of Cathy Cone's images and got perfect screen to print matches on the first go.
Simple Cyanotype lets the user choose a chemistry that can realize a range of exposure scales matched to the contrast range of their negatives. But, the holy grail of cyanotype would be a very long exposure scale if one could make a negative with a very long tonal range. Piezography inks can make digital negatives of extraordinarily long tonal range. So, it was an easy match.
This chemistry is quite sensitive to humidity and development. We opted for a room humidity of 40% at 68 degrees. We also developed in plain water to avoid staining of the paper.
With such a sensitive cyanotype chemistry - the real challenge was drying the paper in a condition that would give a long tonal range without fogging the highlights, and permit us enough time to coat and allow the paper to hang without rushing. At 50% we found the paper would fog quickly absorbing too much moisture as it dried. At 45% we found we had to hurry things along too much for our liking. At 40% we found we could dry the coated papers for as much as an hour without ill effect. That served our workflow well.
We made our negative using Piezography Pro inks and used PiezoDN digital negative software to calibrate it.
A PiezoDN film target was printed as a digital negative and contact printed to a coated sheet of Revere Platinum paper. That sheet was exposed, processed and dried. The test target was read and the data inserted into the PiezoDN software which generated an output profile for use with the QuadTone RIP. Then it was just a matter of printing images directly with our profile through QuadTone RIP. The PiezoDN Software makes profiles that invert an image into a negative and arranges the tonal information to create prints that match the image on a display. There is no reason to make it more difficult than that!
See more of Cathy Cone's work here: cathycone.com/
Learn more about Cone Editions here: cone-editions....
Signup for a workshop here: cone-editions....
Learn about our digital negative system here: piezography.co...

[@Tracks777]

lovely video

[@TheStockwell]

I love Art, I love technology - you folks at Cone Editions slap them together to make a Creativity Burger! I looked up Dr. Ware's "Simple Cyanotype" formula, started reading it, then got dizzy and passed out. For now, I'll stick to what I'm used to. I'll try the improved version when I feel more, um, scientific. I've got to make a trip to your part of the state. A workshop would be wonderful, but I'm pretty sure just hanging around Topsam would be a thrill. I'd write m ore, but I need to get my morning cup of coffee built. Then, I'm making cyanotypes for an April exhibition.

[@ConeEditions]

Next time we make the simple one bottle chemistry I will post a video of it... It's not that daunting really and it's very convenient as it lasts weeks in the bottle... and a fantastic match to PiezoDN digital negatives...

[@TheStockwell]

​@@ConeEditions Well, I'm tantalized! I've become very serious about cyanotography - a word I just made up; for you! I'm working with prefab paper, but the result have me thinking I need to start rolling my own (so to speak) with my own chemistry. Also, I'm currently having my negative printed on generic transparency film by a local print shop - that's SO amateurish! I need to go full PiezoDN, so I'm researching that, as well. It seems I'll need to invest in an Epson printer, to begin with. Here's where I'm at, so far: winterjourney.tumblr.com/ I'm trying to arrange a trip to your photographic and printing theme park. If I time it right, I might go home with a bottle of Dr. Wares' Patented All-Purpose Cyanotype Sauce - which would make my year. My birthday is coming up - I deserve a treat!

[@user-xi9px2hu7v]

I have tried making the "Simple Cyanotype" sensitiser solution and have come up against the same problem each time...When dissolving the Iron (III) nitrate nonahydrate in the citric acid solution, I am only able to add around 2g before it forms a brown precipitate and will not undergo the yellow -> green colour change upon addition of 10% ammonia. I can only get it to work as a sensitiser by adding considerably more ammonia, and even then can only dissolve ~4g of Iron nitrate. Following the recipe to the letter results in a very slow reaction to form insoluble Prussian blue in the bottle overnight. Any tips??

[@itaborai83]

You magnificent bastard!

[@ConeEditions]

Thanks! we take that as a compliment!

[@davenajewicz2093]

wonderful video - just ran across it. Just learning to make cyanotype prints based on digital negatives and would love to know what paper you are using for this video. It looks very sharp and grain free, and clearly works well with this chemistry. Could you comment on what type of paper you are using for this process.

[@ConeEditions]

we use Revere platinum paper!

[@davenajewicz2093]

@@ConeEditions Thanks so much, I will try some. I use your inks on my 3880, and love the results.