Stuff You Should Know Short Stuff: Blueprints
Jan 3, 2024
Discover the intriguing history behind blueprints and why they’re blue. Learn about the serendipitous creation of Prussian blue and its significance in both fashion and architecture. Explore the cyanotype process, a groundbreaking photographic technique that shaped early photography. Delve into how printing technology evolved from traditional methods to modern solutions. Plus, enjoy playful anecdotes surrounding the collaboration between an alchemist and a dye maker that led to this vibrant color!
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First Photography Book
- In 1843, Anna Atkins published the first photography book using cyanotype.
- Her book, Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, showcased this early photographic process.
Cyanotype Chemistry
- Prussian blue's chemical name is blue ferric ferric cyanide, indicating its iron and cyanide composition.
- The "cyan" in cyanotype refers to the presence of cyanide in the process.
Accidental Discovery
- Prussian blue was accidentally discovered by alchemist Johann Konrad Dippel and dye-maker Diesbach.
- Diesbach borrowed potash containing oxblood from Dippel, which unexpectedly turned his red dye into Prussian blue.
