The Workshop on the Cyanotype Printing Process was an immersive one-day workshop under the guidance of photographer and Museo Camera Museum Director Aditya Arya where the participants learned the historic 19th-century printmaking process and got to create their own unique handmade prints on both paper & fabric.

Invented in 1842, merely three years after the official discovery of photography, Cyanotype is one of the earliest permanent printing techniques. Using light-sensitive solutions of salts of iron, the print results in a shade of intense blue caused due to the formation of a pigment known as ‘Prussian Blue’. Used extensively during the early 20th century as a commercial process for reprography, it gradually fell into disuse for that purpose, only to find resurgence in the last couple of decades at the hands of artists. It is often the first process learnt amongst the various historic processes related to photography/ printing, mainly due to its absolute simplicity and nearly fail-safe technique and chemistry, which ensures a successful and beautiful print almost every time.

The workshop began with a brief overview of the evolution of photography and was followed by a presentation where the history and process of Cyanotype print making was discussed along with the possible variations that can be practiced. Participants learned how to mix the light-sensitive chemicals, how to sensitise, expose, and process the prints. Multiple rounds of exposures were carried out through the duration of the day on both paper and fabric. Prints were made using either physical objects (photo-grams) or stock photographic negatives. Participants were encouraged to experiment with their artistic preferences. They could carry on exposures till the time sunlight was strong enough in the evening for natural UV exposures.