Cyanotype Negative Tool

Tune the image, preview the print in Prussian blue, export the digital negative for transparency film.

Image

No image loaded. Everything stays in your browser.

Negative tone

Contrast 1.00

Midtones 1.00

Brightness 0

Mirror negative (print emulsion-down)

These controls shape the negative itself, so the print preview and the exported file always match.

Sun & chemistry (preview only)

Exposure time 1.00

Paper warmth 50

Paper texture

Brushed coating edge

Simulates the finished, dried print. Longer exposure deepens the blue and can block up shadows — just like real sun time.

Export

The negative exports at the original image resolution: inverted, grayscale, with your tone settings baked in. Turn on mirroring if you print emulsion-down. Print it on inkjet transparency film.

Drop an image here or use “Load image” — nothing is uploaded to a server.

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.

How to make a cyanotype from a photo

Load your photo. JPEG, PNG and iPhone HEIC photos all work.
Tune the negative. Cyanotype has a short tonal range, so most photos need extra contrast and lifted midtones. The print preview shows the effect of every adjustment, and the exposure slider simulates sun time so you can see how long to leave it out.
Download and print the negative. Export the full-resolution negative and print it on inkjet transparency film at your printer's highest quality setting. Lay it over your coated paper, expose in sunlight or under a UV lamp, rinse in water, and let the blue develop as it dries.

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.