Cyanotype Toning with Oak Bark and Coffee

I first heard about this method in the alt process group on facebook from member / 100026971302023
They're doing beautiful work and getting these amazing rich, dark tones. The key seems to be toning with oak bark and coffee so we attempt to do the same with a weaker result.
Honestly, I was thinking of just not posting this because the result we get isn't what I wanted but I think it's important to see how toning works and also see that sometimes things don't work out. So much of what's on KZbin is scripted and edited down to show only the pretty bits, but it's good to see the mistakes as well.
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[@emilydefelice5209]

Interesting video. Also the ball that dropped on your deck from the oak tree, that sounds like an oak gall. It’s used to make very nice ink. :)

[@HamiltonWard]

I had no idea, that is fantastic! Thanks for letting me know :)

[@roguesodyssey]

Super cool! I love alternative processes.

[@HamiltonWard]

Same! They are so much fun once you get over the learning hurdle.

[@MelanieKing]

Thank you for this. I have some oak bark and can't wait to try!

[@HamiltonWard]

Woo! Let me know how it works out for you!

[@Jim-BobWalton]

Great result. Have you considered using a slightly heavier paper? Japanese mulberry paper is amazing. Awagami (that’s the brand) is sold at fine art paper sales

[@josef.david.mushpile]

Love your shirt!

[@HamiltonWard]

Thank you!

[@MichaelAP8p]

Hey, very interesting, thanks for sharing. Do you also have a cyanotype tutorial? I like the way you present things.

[@HamiltonWard]

Really appreciate the comment. I don't have a cyanotype video yet but will be doing one within the next few weeks.

[@altimablossom]

How long do you soak the oak bark to make that tea?

[@ilkemsrauzun3167]

Hi, that's very interesting! So you did not use any bleach at all, or did I miss that part?

[@HamiltonWard]

No bleach for this process was used!

[@cringetingles]

this might be a silly question, but does the oak bleaching process work with other barks or does it have to be oak?

[@HamiltonWard]

Not a silly question at all. I haven't tried it with other barks but from what I gather, this process works best with Oak. I think it would be worth experimenting with though.

[@cringetingles]

@@HamiltonWard thanks a ton! cheers!

[@lilybee_]

It took a lot of the blue out. Were you hoping for more of a sepia color?

[@HamiltonWard]

It should turn more of a blackish/grey. I'm still tweaking the formula some to get the tone that I'm looking for. I'll update when I nail it :)

[@sudarshanjuyal]

Was there any change in the tone after print was dry... ?

[@HamiltonWard]

Not as much as I would have liked and I still wasn't able to get the black tone quality that I was looking for. I did a second run with longer times and that seemed to give me the tonal change that I was looking for. It added a lot more pinks to the highlights and the blues started shifting to that black grey.

[@kg9266]

@@HamiltonWard maybe try hydrogen peroxide to make it oxidize faster?

[@HamiltonWard]

@@kg9266 That's a possibility. Hydrogen peroxide is used in the development process so I'm not sure what it would do here and how that would interact. It's worth checking out though. One of the best things about alt process is all the experimenting you can do.

[@AndrewMurphy8383]

Those are headgee applee

[@armandobenitez1744]

Friend I have a Kodak Brownie camera and would like to make a photo without using a film , here Mexico it doesn't exist anymore where I live and I would like to make a photo with this Cyanotype method I would thank you so much , I am new on this and I have this little dream to make a photo with this method

[@benjaminvleugels5609]

I might be a little late but yes you can make a photo like that but you have tho have a very long exposure time about a day and develop the cyanotype in vinegar I hope this helps!

[@moseleenone7252]

Does the oak bark acts as the bleach for the toning process?

[@HamiltonWard]

It does, yes. I need to leave it in longer to get the proper effect that I want though. I'm planning on doing an updated video to this shortly :)

[@memckaig]

An 8 minute video on what not to do. Have you ever figured out something successful to do? If so, I love to learn. Peace