Using a sun tan lamp as a UV source

Well after the last post, I twigged that I was thrashed around a bit and the best approach is going to be to take a more systematic approach to Cyanotype.

There seem three key steps in producing a good Cyanotype:

1. Coating the paper evenly;


2. Getting the amount of exposure on the print to produce dMax (maximum black, or in the case of a Cyanotype, maximum blue);


3. Using a negative of sufficient density to be able to produce the right tone in the highlights (without blocking up).

Well, I seem to have 1 under control. But 2 was causing a significant problem. The sun produces a very variable amount of UV, particularly at this time in the UK. I decided to try a small sun tan lamp as a UV source. I found a relatively inexpensive Philips sun tan lamp intended for facial tanning. I managed to find one locally for around £50. You can even buy them on Amazon!

Next trick was work out how to expose the print evenly. This was fairly straightforward to sort by suspending the lamp across the top of a plastic storage box. The print was in the bottom of the storage box under a sheet of thick glass.

Thus, the lamp is suspended about 25cms above the print. Next step is to work out how long the print needs to be exposed for.......