Cyanotype on Glass - 07

One of my aims with making Cyanotypes on Glass was to see how I could illuminate them by using metal leaf behind the image. I have some Gold Leaf I can play with, but would potentially look to using Copper Leaf for a more industrial look...?

After making the actual image on to glass, I then use another glass plate with metal leaf applied and sandwich a sheet of translucent paper (tracing paper for now, but more than likely look for a very thin Japanese paper eventually) between the glass layers.

When viewed from different angles the light on the image changes ever so slightly, opening up aspects of the shadows and highlights alternately. Without the paper layer this effect is amplified greatly, but limits the angles of view where the image is truly visible, and also requires good natural light rather than artificial light.

As a comparison here is an image of my late mum both without any addition, (left) and with the addition (right) of the extra layers.

p.s The scanner really does not do these justice.!