Cyanotype / Sun Print
Best for:
Art printsSocial media postsBotanical artHome décorGreeting cardsDesktop wallpapers
Sample prompt used to generate the hero image
Cyanotype sun print of a botanical specimen — fern fronds arranged on chemistry-coated paper, creating a white silhouette against deep Prussian blue, 3:4 vertical format. The fern's individual pinnae (leaflets) are clearly defined as crisp white shapes. The background is rich, deep Prussian blue with subtle tonal variation. Visible hand-applied chemistry edges — the blue fades to raw white paper at the borders with visible brush strokes. The print shows the slight texture of watercolor paper. Authentic Anna Atkins / historical photogram aesthetic.Prompt Variations
Section titled “Prompt Variations”Cyanotype of [PLANT/BOTANICAL], white silhouette on Prussian blue, crisp leaf/petal detail, brush-stroked edges, watercolor paper texture, Anna Atkins aesthetic, [FORMAT].Cyanotype photogram of [OBJECTS — e.g., keys, watches, tools, feathers] arranged on paper, white silhouettes on blue, hand-applied edges, [FORMAT].Cyanotype-style portrait of [SUBJECT], deep blue tones, white highlights, brush-stroked chemistry edges, watercolor paper, [FORMAT].Cyanotype landscape of [SCENE], deep Prussian blue tonal range, white highlights, chemistry-edge borders, paper texture, [FORMAT].Tea-toned or bleached cyanotype of [SUBJECT], split toning — warm sepia in the highlights, Prussian blue in the shadows, alchemy aesthetic, [FORMAT].Image-to-Image Transformations
Section titled “Image-to-Image Transformations”Using the attached photo, recreate it as a cyanotype sun print. Convert to two-tone — deep Prussian blue for shadows and midtones, white for highlights. Add hand-applied chemistry edges with visible brush strokes fading to raw paper. Watercolor paper texture. Anna Atkins / historical photogram aesthetic.Tips & Best Practices
Section titled “Tips & Best Practices”- Prussian blue is the only color: Cyanotype is strictly monochromatic Prussian blue + white. No other colors.
- Brush-stroked edges: “Hand-applied chemistry edges” where the blue fades to raw paper with visible brush marks authenticates the process.
- Anna Atkins reference: The first photographer to use cyanotype for botanical specimens. Her name anchors the aesthetic.
- Pairs well with: Daguerreotype / Tintype (same era alt-process photography), Botanical Illustration (botanical subjects)