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 photo editor 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 photo editing software 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 photo-editor 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.