Cyanotype Negative Maker
Turn any photo into a digital negative for cyanotype printing.
Tune the tones, preview the print in real Prussian blue, and export for transparency film.
- Free to use
- Nothing to install
How to use Cyanotype Negative Maker
- 1 Load your photoJPEG, PNG and iPhone HEIC photos all work.
- 2 Tune the negativeAdd contrast and lift midtones while you watch the print preview.
- 3 Print and exposePrint on transparency film, expose in sun or UV, then rinse.
Free cyanotype negative generator — no Photoshop needed
This free online tool turns any photo into a digital negative for cyanotype printing, right in your browser. Upload an image, shape the tones with the contrast, midtone and brightness controls, and watch a live preview of what the finished print will look like — real Prussian blue on paper, not just a blue-tinted filter. When it looks right, download the negative and print it on inkjet transparency film. No Photoshop, no curves files, no sign-in to use the preview, and your photo never leaves your device.
What is a digital negative?
Cyanotype is a contact-printing process: the paper darkens wherever UV light reaches it, so you need a negative the same size as your final print. A digital negative is simply your photo inverted to grayscale and printed on transparent film. Dark areas of the original become clear film, letting UV through to create deep Prussian blue; light areas become dense ink that blocks the light and stays paper-white. This tool builds that negative for you and bakes your tone adjustments into the exported file.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Photoshop to make a cyanotype negative?
No. This generator inverts your photo, converts it to grayscale and applies your tone adjustments entirely in the browser, so you can skip the Photoshop curves workflow completely.
What do I print the negative on?
Inkjet transparency film (often sold as overhead projector film or pictorico-style film). Print at your printer's highest quality setting so the ink lays down densely — a thin negative gives washed-out highlights.
Should I mirror the negative?
Mirror it if you print with the ink side facing the coated paper (emulsion-down), which gives the sharpest contact. The mirror toggle is off by default; turn it on and the preview and export flip together.
Why does my photo need extra contrast?
Cyanotype compresses tones: shadows block up and highlights fade quickly. A negative that looks too contrasty on screen usually prints just right, which is why the preview simulates the finished print instead of showing an ordinary edited photo.
