Prompt Cast
The History and Decline of Prussian Blue in Blueprinting
TLDR Prussian Blue, a photoreactive dye, was discovered by John Herschel in the 1840s and revolutionized blueprinting. However, it was eventually replaced by the diazo white process and digital printing technology.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The color Prussian blue, used in old blueprints, was discovered to be photoreactive by English astronomer John Herschel in the 1840s.
02:02
The cyanotype process, using blue ferric ferric cyanide, allowed architects and engineers to make copies of their drawings, eliminating the need to redraw everything.
04:12
The blueprints were created by drawing in regular ink on paper and then creating a reverse negative image on blue paper using Prussian blue.
06:26
Prussian Blue was accidentally created by an alchemist and a dye maker who shared a lab and borrowed ingredients from each other, resulting in the creation of the beautiful blue dye.
08:48
Prussian Blue, originally called Berlin Blue, became known as Prussian Blue because it was used to dye the uniforms of the Prussian army in the early 19th century, and depending on where you were from, calling it Prussian Blue was either a term of endearment or disparagement.
10:54
The diazo white process replaced Prussian Blue for architectural plans, and eventually the diazo process faded away due to regulations and the rise of digital printing technology.
12:56
Pen plotters, which were originally contraptions with multiple pens that made copies as you drew, have now been computerized and are used for automation in sign making and other industries.
Categories:
Society & Culture
