text: Introduction of the blueprint process eliminated the expense of photolithographic reproduction or of hand-tracing of original drawings. By the later 1890s in American architectural offices, a blueprint was one-tenth the cost of a hand-traced reproduction. The blueprint process is still used for special artistic and photographic effects, on paper and fabrics.
  Various base materials have been used for blueprints.  Paper was a common choice; for more durable prints linen was sometimes used, but with time, the linen prints would shrink slightly.  To combat this problem, printing on imitation vellum and, later, polyester film (Mylar) was implemented.
  Whiteprints
  Traditional blueprints became obsolete when less expensive printing methods and digital displays became available.
  In the early 1940s, cyanotype blueprint began to be supplanted by diazo prints, also known as whiteprints. This technique produces blue lines on a white background. The drawings are also called blue-lines or bluelines. Other comparable dye-based prints were known as blacklines. Diazo prints remained in use until they were replaced by xerographic print processes.
  Xerography is standard copy machine technology using toner on bond paper. When large size xerography machines became available,  1975, they replaced the older printing methods. As computer-aided design techniques came into use, the designs were printed directly using a computer printer or plotter.