FECUNIDTY TITLE
Annie Dillard's "Fecundity" reflects nature’s boundless fertility, where life perpetually creates and destroys itself. Combining the technique of cyanotype printing with digital editing, this title sequence portrays the duality of nature, both enchanting and unsettling.
2025 Cyanotype print x digital
CYANOTYPE PRINT x DIGITAL MANIPULATION
Cyanotype is a printmaking technique that creates blue images, reminiscent of MRI scans. It echoes the idea of revealing the hidden, unsettling intricacies of life, often unseen or difficult to comprehend. I combined traditional cyanotype with digital manipulation for this project, merging the strengths of both mediums.
Style Frames
MOTION TEST
I did a motion test for the title sequence to get a feel for how the elements would move, inspired by the way natural forms shift and flow, like plants growing and centipedes crawling.
PROCESS
01. DIGITAL COMPOSITION
I collected and photographed plants as design assets. Through color adjustment, blend modes, blur effects, noise, I mimicked a cyanotype look and built out all the design compositions in Photoshop to get a general idea of how it will turn out. Collected plants that have interesting forms or intricate details.
plants i collected and photographed that have interesting forms and textures
Photoshopped frames to figure out composition
02. CYANOTYPE PRINTING
Next came the fun part, heading to the print studio. I started by inverting the designs and printing them in greyscale. Then, I applied cooking oil to transform the prints into transparent film negatives. These were placed over cyanotype-coated paper and exposed to UV light. After about 20 minutes, I rinsed the paper and left it to dry.
scroll to see printing process →
RESULT ANALYSIS
The soft edges and faded colors of cyanotype print created a nostalgic look. Although I like the texture but it lacks the discomfort feeling this title sequence aims to deliver. Hence I decided to combine both the digital version and the cyanotype to create a look that captures both the beauty and strangeness of nature.
03. COMBINING CYANOTYPE X DIGITAL
DIGITAL
The rich saturated colors looks great but the texture looks unnatural and feels alien.
CYANOTYPE
The cyanotype has beautiful textures but the fading and soft edge makes it look nostalgic and that is not the right tone for the project.
COMBINED
Combined both preserves the rich hues of the digital version and the textures of the cyanotype, overall enhancing the look.