Cyanotype is an old photographic process based on UV-sensitive chemicals that produces characteristic blue images. Normally, the technique requires sunlight or a strong UV light source as well as a stencil or negative. An experimental approach now shows that a resin 3D printer can also be used for this process.
A developer named Gabe has developed a method for exposing images with a modified 3D printer using the cyanotype process. To do this, he uses the printer’s UV light, which is normally used to cure synthetic resin. Instead of a resin bath, however, a paper coated with a light-sensitive layer is placed in the printing chamber.
The main challenge lay in the software. In order for the printer to correctly expose an image, Gabe had to develop a software solution that would convert grayscale images into a format that could be processed by the printer. Originally, he used Python code that created an OpenSCAD file. This divided the image into small rectangular segments whose height corresponded to the brightness. These were then converted into STL files and prepared for the printing process. He later replaced this approach with a more direct method using UVtools to generate native print files.
The hardware modifications were comparatively simple. The resin vat was removed and replaced with a wooden cover that holds the paper in place while protecting the user’s eyes from UV radiation. The printer can then expose the paper with the desired motif. Initial results show detailed and precise cyanotype prints.
Gabe has published detailed documentation at Hackaday.io.
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