Cyanotype Downloads

Cyanotype Download Instructions

I’m sharing these free downloads so you can add them to your own cyanotype projects at home.

All of these images were sourced from the Library of Congress and then converted from positives into negatives, so they’re ready to use for cyanotype printing. You can print them onto transparency sheets with a laser or inkjet printer, then layer them over your cyanotype paper or fabric before exposing.

They’re a fun way to add a little unexpected, old-timey weirdness to your prints.

How to use them

Print your image onto a transparency sheet.
Make sure the transparency film matches your printer type — inkjet film for inkjet printers, laser film for laser printers.
Let the transparency dry completely.
Inkjet prints especially need a little time so they don’t smudge.
Place the transparency over your cyanotype surface.
Use pre-treated cyanotype paper, fabric, or anything you’ve coated with cyanotype solution.
Hold everything flat.
A piece of glass or clear acrylic works well to keep the transparency pressed against the surface while it exposes.
Expose in sunlight or under a UV light.
Exposure time will vary depending on your materials, light, and the look you want.
Rinse, dry, and see what happened.
Follow the instructions for your cyanotype paper or chemistry. The blue will usually deepen as the print dries.

You can use these images on their own or layer them with leaves, flowers, lace, cut paper, handwriting, or anything else that blocks light. Cyanotypes are wonderfully unpredictable, so don’t worry too much about making them perfect.

A few tips:

If your print is too pale, try exposing it longer.
If the image isn’t dark enough, print the transparency with more contrast.
You can stack two copies of the same transparency if you want a denser image.
Store your transparencies flat and reuse them.

These images are royalty-free and free for you to use in your own creative projects. Print them, layer them, crop them, combine them, and have fun with them.