Cyanotype vs. blue gum

I recently tested for myself the difference between using gum print and using cyanotype for your blue layer in a CMYK print. Both of these prints were done on Hahnemühle plat rag. I used the same magenta and yellow watercolor for each. The temperature and humidity was consistent in my studio throughout the printing process. The only differences between these two prints are that for one I created a negative with adjustments for the gum bichromate process and for the other I created a negative with adjustments for the cyanotype process.

I prefer cyanotype because it gives crispness and clarity to my images. I’m using a contact print frame for now, and I find that a 4-color gum print loses a lot of detail. These images are my artist’s proofs. I will definitely lighten the blue of the cyanotype for the final images, but I think this example highlights the difference in clarity that using a cyanotype layer brings to your gum print.

Can you tell the difference?

Layer order: blue, yellow, magenta, black

layer order: blue, yellow, magenta, black