These days of mid-March as Spring approaches have been unusually sunny here in the Bay Area. Short sleeves. Sunglasses. Sunscreen. The quest for a bit of shade.
The rain and fog may be just around the corner, but a sunny afternoon is a great time to explore the colorful composition of light, the filtering properties of various colors, and a light-activated chemical reaction--all while making cool photographic prints without the use of a camera.
The process of "sun printing" involves using special light-sensitive paper. You place an object on the page to "block" the sunlight. After a few minutes, you remove the object and rinse the paper. The negative space (which had been exposed directly to sunlight) will show up blue. (It's not just any blue, either. It's Prussian Blue, or ferric ferrocyanide, a permanent shade of blue dye created as a result of a chemical reaction between sunlight and the special paper.) In sharp contrast to the appearance of the blue, the positive space will show up in white, x-ray style in appearance. How bright the image is depends on what you use to block the light and what color you use to block the light.
What you end up with is a photogram, a photograph created through the use of paper and light. In 1843, Anna Atkins released portions of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, the first book illustrated with photographs. Atkins' botanical images, like the one shown above, were all created as cyanotype photograms.
The great thing about sun printing is that is offers a wonderful chemistry demonstration for a wide range of ages. Even the youngest of students can enjoy the "craft" of sun printing and learn a bit about the science behind the print they take home. Couple sun printing with a nature walk, and students can print leaves or flower petals. Older students can explore the effectiveness of various colors as filters, evaluate the importance of ultraviolet light in this printing process, or try one of the other variations noted in the project idea:
- Colorful Chemistry Creations: Make Your Own Sun Print with Color and Sunlight! (Science Buddies Difficulty Level: 3-5)
For classes and families, this project can be a lot of fun. Plus, it combines art and science!
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I am a Science teacher. I teach a unit on Electromagnetic spectrum using UV rays for some demos. I would love to do this activity with my students. Where could I purchase the special paper and what are some good objects to use for the positive space?
Thank you,
Wendy
Hi Wendy - You can find the special paper from a variety of online sources. But Science Buddies lists the following source in the "Materials" section of the project:
Lawrence Hall of Science's store at http://lawrencehallofscience.stores.yahoo.net/sun printkits.html
Any solid shapes should work. The image here shows natural objects like leaves. But you could also use blocks or books or anything that will block the exposure.
Let us know how it goes!
Amy