Cyanotype; to break the cycle, we decided to search for something new to do—something that actually requires a bit of brainpower and isn’t just the cliché “call a friend and paint a random canvas” routine. Enter Cyanotype.
If you skipped chemistry class, a cyanotype is an old-school photographic printing process that produces a rich, monochromatic Prussian blue image. The magic happens in three main stages: Mixing & Coating, UV Exposure, and Washing & Developing.
We grabbed our starter kit from a local Egyptian brand, @cyanotype.eg (created by Youssef Madbouly). Here is what came inside the box:
The Chemicals: 60ml of Part A and Part B, plus Hydrogen Peroxide (optional)
The Medium: 20 A5 papers (thick, sturdy cardboard-style sheets)
The Tools: 2 syringes (no needles!), 1 mixing cup, 1 brush, and 4 clips
The Art (optional): 2 negative pictures and a pack of dried botanicals
The Setup: A contact frame and an instruction sheet
Pro Tip: If you want to print custom photos, you can print your own inverted images onto transparent acetate paper using a standard printer.
Step-by-Step: From Bored to Blue
Step 1: Mixing and Coating
P.S. Before you start, make sure you’re in a dimly lit room. You don’t want the ambient light triggering the chemical reaction before you’re ready!
First, clear some workspace. You can wear gloves if you want to keep your hands clean, but honestly, the mess is half the fun.
Grab your two syringes, the mixing cup, and your bottles of Part A and Part B.
Open Part A and draw about 2–3 centimeters of the solution into the first syringe, then drop it into the mixing cup.
Seal Part A, grab the fresh syringe, and repeat the exact same step with Part B.
Make sure the lids on your mixing cup are sealed tight (unless you want to accidentally dye yourself Prussian blue), and shake well.
Take one of your A5 papers and lightly coat its surface with the brush. You don’t need to drown the paper; just use a nice, even amount, no slabs needed.
Spoiler alert: It rarely works perfectly on the first try. I failed an entire sheet, but we’ll get into the gory details of my mistakes in a minute.
Step 2: The Sun Bath Layout
Now it’s time to layer your art. Place your negative image (or the provided dried leaves and feathers) flat on the coated paper, then sandwich it with the contact frame. Secure the top and bottom edges tightly with two of the clips.
Now, let it bathe.
Take your frame outside into the sun’s pure, unfiltered UV light (or under a UV lamp if you have one). When exposed, the paper’s surface undergoes a chemical reaction and turns blue, while the covered, blocked-out areas remain yellow.
Office Hack: We actually placed our frame onto the AC unit outside our office window. The Cairo sunlight was hitting perfectly, so it sped up the process, but you’ll leave it slightly for about 10 minutes or more, depending on where your sun hits.
Step 3: Rinse, Rinse, Repeat
Once your timer goes off, bring it inside immediately, unclip the frame, and head to the sink.
Don’t worry about being overly delicate; the paper is thick and handles water well. Give it a gentle rinse to wash out the remaining yellow residue. Do not scrub or use force; just let the running water do the work.
Finally, leave your masterpiece to dry in a cool, shaded environment. Once it’s dry, you are officially less boring! Hang it up wherever you like, just keep it out of intense heat.
The Mistakes (So You Don’t Make Them)
I failed miserably on my first attempt.
Mistake #1: I completely forgot to properly measure Parts A and B during my first mix, which ruined the chemical balance right off the bat.
Mistake #2: When it came time to rinse, I didn’t know what I was doing and literally washed the entire image right off the paper, turning the whole project into a blurry puddle of cardboard that went straight into the trash.
One final warning: Clean your workspace the second you are finished. If the mixed solution dries on your desk or floor, it can leave a permanent stain.
The Verdict
Failing is just part of the process, and honestly, figuring it out is what makes it entertaining. If you want to try something genuinely different this summer, or if you’re looking to pick up a cool artistic skill without actually needing to know how to draw, consider this your sign.
You can grab your own kit directly via Instagram from @cyanotype.eg.
I’m Omar Badawy, the SMM at your daily stop for tea—El-Shai. I’m behind the stories, posts, some interviews, strategies, designs, and everything fun you scroll past, and you’ll catch me covering events and chatting with the people everyone’s talking about. I’m a senior in high school, gearing up to dive into Media Studies soon.
