Blueprint photography is, quite simply, the use of blueprint/blueline paper in photographic processes. It can be used instead of film, instead of photographic paper, as poster paper, or anything else you might imagine.

The results are often surprising, though sometimes they’re quite plain. Blueprint paper is not very sensitive to yellow/orange but very sensitive to blue, so blue skies become white washed out skies and yellow flowers don’t even show up sometimes, and when they do, they appear blue.

Development is easy, quick, and can be done at home with common household ammonia. The paper is cheap and readily available, and the equipment needed is minimal and inexpensive.

This site has information about the common equipment and processes you will need to follow. If you have questions, please ask them! We want everyone to have the opportunity to at least try using blueprint paper and other alternative photographic processes.

Getting Started

First, get some blueprint paper. It’s easily found at your local reprographics shop or engineering supply house, and it can be ordered online. Also, the materials needed to make your own blueprint paper can be acquired from Rockland Colloid, a cool company with nifty stuff.

Once you have paper, you need something with which to make an exposure. A 35mm camera will do, assuming that it has a B (bulb) shutter setting, but it will produce a 35mm image. If you have a medium format camera, like a 6×6 or 645 camera, that would be a good start. Old Polaroid roll film cameras like the 95A go for under $10 these days and produce excellent results.

Simply load the paper where the film would be, usually fastened against the film plate with double-sided tape or someting similar. Position the camera somewhere it can stay for 2-4 hours, compose your shot, open the aperture as wide as you can get away with, and open the shutter so that it will stay open. It is probably best to try several shots of varying lengths until you get a feel for your camera. When done, simple expose to ammonia fumes to develop! More details are avai lable under the various links on the menu to the left

Even if you don’t have a camera that fits the bill, you can still play. Any digital image can be printed onto a transparency either at home or at your local print shop. Place the transparency over your blueprint paper, expose to sunlight or another bright UV source, and develop with ammonia. Again, more information is available from the other pages on this site.

Have fun!

Most importantly, have fun. You’re doing something different, something that gives you a new medium for your creativity, something completely different from what they taught you in art school.

Try to find subjects that really lend themselves to the medium; images with lots of orange and blue will result in interesting contrasts. Something that changes slightly during the long exposure, like a parking lot, might be interesting for the ghostly effect you get.

When you have something you like or want to discuss, scan it (or digitally photograph it if necessary) and upload it to the gallery here. Ask questions on the forums and share ideas, techniques, and even equipment. If nothing else, you’ll have fun.