What items won't work in a sunprint kit?

Answer 1

Choosing items to use in a sunprint kit is mostly a matter of taste, but here are some tips that will improve the quality off your image:

First you want to avoid items that are wet because water actually starts the developing process. If you use leaves or items that you have collected outside it is a good idea to dry them off first.

Second you need to consider what you want your image to look like. Items with clearly defined edges such as leaves or paper shapes will give you images with crisp clean lines, while items such as fluffy feathers or natural grass tufts will yield a more fuzzy edge. Which of the edge types you want will determine what items to use.

The only other thing that I can think of that would not work in a sunprint kit is a live animal like an insect. It may produce a cool image, but getting it to sit still long enough for the print to form would be highly improbable. In addition, the chemicals used in the paper may have a detrimental effect on the animals if they come into prolonged contact with it or lick it so it is best to err on the side of caution and do the humane thing--stick to inanimate objects. If you want an insect shape you can use plastic bugs or paper cutouts to create the same effect without the problems faced by using live creatures.

Otherwise just think about your composition and how things will look in silhouette. Play around with it, be creative, and have fun!