Town Of Pelham Public Library: Learn How To Make Sunprints

Press release from Town of Pelham Public Library:

2021-07-16

The Library is offering a sunprint making program for both children ages 8 and up and adults to learn how to use the light of the sun to “print” images on to paper.  The program will take place outside on Tuesday, August 17 from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. In case of rain, this program will be moved to following day. 

Sunprints are an easier form of a cyanotype, which uses chemicals applied to paper. In this case, sunprint paper is pre-coated with chemicals which react when exposed to sunlight because it is photosensitive. This alternative photo process use iron compounds to produce prints,  which is why they are blue-toned instead of black-and-white. This familiar blue tone may remind you of blueprints, which originally used the same process.

No artistic skills are necessary for the program. Come have fun and experiment! Participants can bring their own found objects to use if they wish. Otherwise all materials will be supplied.

To read more about Sunprints, click here or you can read more about the process and history at the Getty Museum.

This press release was produced by Town of Pelham Public Library. The views expressed here are the author’s own.