The playfulness, more kitchen sink and less “scientific” approach to printing is probably why I make cyanotypes even as I explore more and more alternative photographic processes. My recent experiments are toning prints in extracts from acorn and horse chestnut.
Most practitioners of this craft are known to submerge their hard work into bleach, watch the print almost fade and then pray to an appropriate deity for the tones to re-appear in a different hue.
I have found that a reverse toning process - soaking in toner first, and then in the bleach works well for chestnut and acorn. See my other post for an example and time-lapse.
For this print I have used chestnut husks only and it gently alters the highlights towards red/pink and changes the blue just slightly away from the well know Prussian and leaves a sligh pink stain on the paper.
Toner
Roughly chop or blend about 30 grams of chestnut husks, watch out for spikes!
Add 300 ml / 1 cup of boiling water
Let steep and cool for 24 hours
Process
This is my “reverse” toner process where I soak first and bleach second
Soak the print in water so that the paper is wet before you start toning
Soak the print in the toner for 60 minutes, you can dilute the toner slightly to get more liquid
Make a bleach solution of sodium carbonate - a bit weaker than you would use to bleach a cyanotype before toning
Let the print soak in the bleach and watch it not fade but change tone directly.
Pull it out and wash it when you are happy with the result