Alternative Process | Cyanotypes on Mirrors

This is a process I have been engaging with for the past 6 months and have finally made progress on the installation I aim to make with it. Cyanotypes are a relatively easy process for anyone to take up: the chemistry is non-toxic and any source of UV light will expose the image onto a cotton based surface. However, figuring out how to make cyanotype emulsion stick to mirrors or glass can be very tricky. There are a number of variables involved and a lot of experimentation is required. A few months ago I made a breakthrough after many nights of staying up way too late trying to get my image to stick to the emulsion I created. I finally figured out the correct ratio of gelatin and cyanotype chemistry.

Since then I've been able to collect mirrors and think about which images fit the mirrors best. This process has been one of the most rewarding and enjoyable ways to print. There is simply nothing like dipping a mirror into water and seeing a bright blue image come forth.