10 Pieces of Cyanotype Sun Printing Gear Worth Buying in 2026
Pre-coated paper, mix-your-own sensitizer, and the odds and ends that keep your blues deep instead of washed-out gray.
You want deep Prussian blue, crisp white silhouettes, and prints that don't fade after one summer. That means picking the right starting point: pre-coated paper if you just want to lay a fern down and watch it happen, or a 2-part sensitizer if you want to coat watercolor paper and cotton yourself. Below: the paper kits, the chemistry kits, the brushes and glass that hold your subject flat, the fabric to print on, and a timer so you stop guessing at exposure.
Read the full intro ↓Show less ↑
Some links here are affiliate links — if you buy through them we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
The Kit at a Glance
| Category | Top Pick | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Budget | Cyanotype Kit, 30 Sheets + Acrylic Panel | $7.99 | 4.1 |
| Best for Workshops | Sun Print Paper, 120 Sheets | $18.14 | |
| Best Overall | Jacquard Cyanotype Kit, 2-Part Sensitizer | $27.99 | 4.7 |
| Best Starter Bundle | Jacquard Cyanotype Kit with Sponge Brush | $34.99 | 4.5 |
| Best Value Volume | 16oz Easy-Mix Cyanotype Solution | $16.06 | 4.5 |
| Best All-in-One | Cyanotype Kit with A5 Paper & Tools | $16.99 | 4.6 |
| Best Refill | Potassium Ferricyanide, 4 oz | $16.32 | 4.6 |
| Best Exposure Tool | Large Digital Timer, 7.8" LED | $29.99 | 4.6 |
| Complete kit | ≈ $168 | ||
Pre-Coated Paper: Open the Pack, Go Outside
Zero mixing, zero gloves, zero mess. Pull a sheet in dim light, arrange leaves or lace, set it in direct sun for 2-5 minutes, rinse in cold water. This is where everyone should start.
Cyanotype Kit, 30 Sheets + Acrylic Panel
Thirty 5.8x8.3 sheets and a press panel for under ten bucks. Smaller format, which is perfect for cards, bookmarks, and burning through test exposures without guilt.
Sun Print Paper, 120 Sheets
120 small sheets at 4.1x5.8 inches — the pack you buy when you're running a table at a craft fair or teaching a classroom. Enough volume that one flubbed rinse doesn't matter.
Mix-Your-Own Sensitizer: Coat Any Surface
Two-part kits (ferric ammonium citrate + potassium ferricyanide) let you brush sensitizer onto watercolor paper, cotton, canvas, wood — whatever holds a wash. More control, deeper blues, way more square footage per dollar.
Jacquard Cyanotype Kit, 2-Part Sensitizer
The industry standard. Two bottles you mix in equal parts, enough to coat roughly 50-70 sheets of 8x10, and it dries to a yellow-green you can actually see so you know where you've brushed.
Jacquard Cyanotype Kit with Sponge Brush
Same Jacquard chemistry, bundled with the sponge applicator so you're not improvising with a paper towel on day one. Good if you only want to place one order.
16oz Easy-Mix Cyanotype Solution
Sixteen ounces of mixed solution for the price of a sandwich run. If you're coating tote bags or tea towels, you'll burn through small kits fast — this is the refill-sized option.
Cyanotype Kit with A5 Paper & Tools
Sensitizer, A5 paper, and the brushes and tools in one box. Reasonable middle ground if you want to try hand-coating without committing to a full chemistry setup.
Printing on Fabric
Cyanotype grabs natural fibers — 100% cotton, linen, silk. Synthetics won't hold it. Tote bags are the classic first fabric project because they're flat, cheap, and people actually use them.
Potassium Ferricyanide, 4 oz
When part B runs dry before part A — which happens if you're heavy-handed on fabric — this is the standalone refill instead of buying a whole new kit.
Exposure, Pressing & Wash-Out
Three things wreck a print: a subject that lifts off the paper mid-exposure, guessing at timing, and rinsing in a sink that's too small to move water. Fix all three cheap.
Large Digital Timer, 7.8" LED
Exposure is the single variable that decides whether your print is washed-out pale or blown-out solid. Big readable digits you can see from across the yard, magnetic back so it sticks to anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pre-coated paper or mix-your-own sensitizer?
Start with pre-coated paper. It costs under ten dollars, needs no gloves or dark room, and tells you within one afternoon whether you like the process. Move to 2-part sensitizer when you want to print on fabric, watercolor paper, or anything bigger than a letter sheet — it's roughly ten times cheaper per square foot.
How long do I expose a cyanotype in the sun?
In direct midsummer midday sun, 2-5 minutes. Overcast or low winter sun can take 20-30 minutes or longer. Watch the color: the coating shifts from yellow-green to a bronze-gray, and when the exposed areas start looking slightly silvery-blue, pull it. A timer beats guessing.
Why did my print rinse out pale and gray instead of deep blue?
Usually underexposure, or you rinsed too briefly. Rinse in cold running water for a full 5 minutes until the yellow stops bleeding out, then let it dry in the dark — cyanotypes deepen dramatically over the next 24 hours as they oxidize. A splash of hydrogen peroxide in the final rinse jumps that oxidation forward instantly.
Can I print on any fabric?
Natural fibers only — 100% cotton, linen, silk, hemp. Polyester and poly blends won't bind the iron salts and you'll get a faint ghost at best. Pre-wash new fabric to strip sizing, and always slide cardboard behind the panel you're coating so the sensitizer doesn't soak through to the back.
Is cyanotype chemistry dangerous?
It's one of the mildest photographic processes, but potassium ferricyanide is still a chemical: wear nitrile gloves, mix in a ventilated space, don't eat or drink around it, and keep it away from acids. Pre-coated paper skips the handling entirely, which is why it's the better call for kids.
Do I need a dark room to coat paper?
No. A dim indoor room away from windows is enough — the sensitizer is slow and reacts to UV, not ordinary tungsten or warm LED light. Coat, let it dry in the dark (a closed drawer or closet works), and store unused coated sheets in a lightproof bag.
Ready to put it to use?
Now that you have the gear, try one of our matching quests.
More gear guides
As an Amazon Associate, IRL Sidequests earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and ratings shown are from Amazon and may change. Last updated October 2026.