Sunprint Kit

“These were a mainstay of my 1980s midwestern summers. They’re called “cyanotypes” and it’s a kind of “sunlight photograph”, if you will. Really fun for both kids and adults. (I’ve seen some kits on Amazon that offer different colored papers as well but I haven’t tried those.) Originally developed by educators at the Lawrence Hall of Science on the UC Berkeley campus. Sunprints encourage an interest in the photographic process by using only the sun, water, and a bit of imagination.  Easy to use. Just place a fern, flower, or any interesting object on the cyanotype SunPrint Solar Paper, exposing it to the sun. Save the print by soaking it in water and then drying it.”

“This is my go-to birthday gift for acquaintances. Some reasons: it’s unique (rather than a candle or soap or whatever), it encourages your gift-ee to exercise their creativity and get some sunshine, and it can be squeezed into an envelope along with a card (so even if it’s a no-gifts event, you can kind of get away with it).”

“would make a set with a pal. one day i'll be braver and buy all the accoutrement for Realer cyanotypes but this set of cheat-sheets is a personal prerequisite for all that. i never quite recommend a Product but square things and analog printing have a hold on me. two birds one scone.”

“Be a cool aunt, bring a sun print kit on family vacation!”

“simple pleasures”

“DIY kit for cyanotype prints (invented at Berkeley’s Lawerence Hall in 1975 — nbd!). While they don’t necessarily work… perfectly, they are always fun to bust out as the impetus for a twig/flower/pine cone scavenger hunt.”

“i just recently learned this was a craft activity that kids did in the 80s. this could be fun to do!”

“outdoor activity that doesn’t require a ball.”

“Love taking this paper on trips with our kids. Makes a nature hike into an art project.”

“classic, no-screen entertainment that i remember from my childhood. go to the park and collect fun things.”

“art + science!”

“we made these with our community garden kids last weekend, it simply never gets old. a favorite tip, sprinkle a bit of dirt on top of the rest of your assemblage for a little grainy texture in the final print.”

“A favorite summer pasttime.”

“Like a Polaroid from the SUN.”

“I have an old sun print kit stashed away, great reminder to use before summer is over!”

“Delightful.”

“The packaging already makes me smile. Want to try this with the kids!”