Cyanotype Process 

The cyanotype is generally viewed as the third major step in the evolution of photography. Previous to the cyanotype photographs had been made on pewter plates coated with bitumen and then the Daguerreotype was developed. The Daguerrotype used a copper plate coated in silver to capture the photographic image. The pewter/bitumen and copper/silver photographic processes were expensive and dangerous. The cyanotype, like the previous processes, is a direct print method of photography. That means that the final image is produced directly on the paper or the photographic plate. 
 

​A Cyanotype is one of the easiest types of photography to master and is perhaps the safest and most economical forms of classical photography ever developed. Since cyanotype photography is a direct print method it is making a comeback in the digital age because you can produce cyanotype prints of digital images. 

The following links and videos provide a good overview of the cyanotype process and how to make true cyanotype prints from your digital images.

 

Suggested further reading:

http://www.ehow.co.uk/video_4947182_experimental-photography-pinhole-camera-cyanotype.html

http://www.instructables.com/id/Cyanotypes---super-easy-photo-prints-at-home./

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanotype

http://www.mikeware.co.uk/mikeware/New_Cyanotype_Process.html

http://www.christopherjames-studio.com/build/ALTcyanotype.html

http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2013/02/04/cyanotype-process-digital-photography-using-traditional-techniques/