The History of Blueprints
From a 19th-century photographic discovery to an essential tool of modern engineering.
Discover how the blueprint was invented in 1842, why engineers adopted it, and how the technology evolved over nearly two centuries.
How Blueprints Were Made
Sunlight, iron salts and water — the surprisingly simple science behind the original blueprint.
How did engineers copy complex drawings before printers existed? Explore the original cyanotype process step by step.