Untitled (Entanglement No. 1219-12) copyright 2023 Douglas Stockdale –
This is probably more of a Public Service Announcement to the Alt Processing Community as to my recent lesson’s learned. Early on in my cyanotype journey I had read in someone’s well known book that the cyanotype solutions can last forever, even when the Ferric Ammonium Citrate (FAC or per-made Solution A) turns dark blue. As the two cyanotype prints above illustrate, you can print something with fresh and with 15 month old FAC, but the print results will not be same.
Now as a scientist, I should have known that this longevity assertion might not be exactly true. I have spent a great part of my professional career doing stability testing for drug products (yep, I’m one of those guys who have been responsible for that Don’t-Use-After date on your meds). Chemicals, Food and most stuff changes over time, even humans.
Regretfully, and this is on me, I did not take notice of what was occurring with my cyanotype printing as my FAC solution progressively changed from a yellow-green to a blue solution, which then progressively became darker and darker blue. And yes, one 500 mL bottle has lasted for over a year and is now 15 months old, since I have been making only 11×14 prints, an average of one per day, using 1-1/2 mL to coat one print. That slow usage can make a 500 mL bottle last a long, long time.
For the last month I have noticed an increase in blue-fog on the outsides of the print image area and reduction in print contrast that seemed to really reduce the highlights. In response, I think that I have been compensating by slowly increasing the contrast of my contact negative. The cyanotype print, above left, was getting to be my last straw, as I was trying every trick to eliminate the blue-fog print effect while using the remainder of my very old FAC solution. (Okay, I am cheap, if it still seems to work, don’t throw it out). Per the expert, this FAC was suppose to still make cyanotype prints. What I had not realized was what type of cyanotype print this old FAC could make.
After a bunch of muttering, I decided to pop-open a new bottle of FAC to coat my rag sheet and see what happens. A month ago, I had opened a new bottle of the Solution B (PF), so I did not think that this was effecting the print quality. And the two prints above were made on two successive days, same digital negative, same processing steps. Wow. What a difference! The print, above on the right was made with the fresh FAC. The fresh FAC improved the print color, increased the contrast in both the high and low values and the blue-fog was almost entirely gone.
In stability science, the goal is to find out when the attributes of the what your testing starts to change and go beyond the acceptable limits. The test product should provide consistent results when new and the similar results after an extended period of time. In checking with the SDS (Safety Data Sheet) for FAC by the chemical manufactures, they state that after this chemical entity is made and held in dark storage, it’s good for only 12 months, and degraded by light and moisture. So when in solution by the Alt Chemical manufacturers, it’s stored in opaque dark brown bottles. Nevertheless, the FAC chemicals are absorbing more water molecules, thus there is a slow change, even when a bottle is not opened.
Regretfully, the bottles of Solution A (FAC) that I have from Photographer’s Formulary does not include a manufacturing date, thus, how long the FAC is good becomes a big unknown. The only recourse I can recommend is to keep an eye on the color of the FAC when coating prints and when the color of this solution is no longer yellow-green and begins to turn blue, it’s time to discard it.
So I am starting this year re-examining the cyanotype prints that I have made for the past two or three (or more) months for a do-over printing and for some, hand-sewing. First I am checking the digital negative; it is too contrasty because I was compensating for the changes in how the FAC was working? Then I will make a confirmatory print that the digital contact negative is providing the cyanotype print that I had pre-visualized. Oh well, if it’s not one thing, it’s another on this alternative photography journey.
Make every day an Earth Day
Doug
Btw, take note of the update on my Book Workshop in January with SEC4P: only ONE spot left. This workshop sells out every time…just saying if you are interested in a developing a book as a part of your New Year’s resolution!
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Book development workshop:
Update: Only one spot still available!: Developing a Creative Photo Book, on Zoom with SouthEast Center for Photography (SEC4P), January 20 & 21st and 27th, & 28th, 2024, from 10 AM – 1 PM, Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Book Making with Douglas Stockdale, on Zoom with Medium Photo, March 16-17 & 23-24th (4 sessions, two consecutive weekends), 2024, from 9am-12pm (Pacific Standard Time).
Artist book available:
The Flow of Light Brushes the Shadow, an artist book from Singular Images Press, 2022, $60.00 (CA sales tax for those residing in the USA) plus shipping expenses. Message me douglas.stockdale.artist@gmail.com
Singular Images 