HANDMADE
PRINTS
AN ANALOG PROCESS—NO DIGITAL CAMERAS, COMPUTERS, OR PHOTOSHOP
printing in the darkroom
A behind-the-scenes look at
There's something magical about going back to the old-school way of creating a photograph. Here's how your print was made.
WATCH THE CRAFTING
PROCESS IN ACTION
First, I take a picture with a film camera, rather than a more modern digital camera.
I could send the film out to a lab to be developed, but I really enjoy the process, so I do it myself at home.
In the dark, I submerge the film in a few special chemical solutions, which desensitize it to light, revealing the previously hidden images on the negatives.
I select which image I would like to print, head into my makeshift home darkroom (a room that's pitch black) & load it into an analog printing tool called an enlarger.
It starts with a
NEGATIVE
Taking a picture with a film camera creates a negative, like the ones you see here. A negative is an inverted version of the final photograph.
This is where the magic happens. (Can you tell I geek out over this?)
In the dark, the enlarger projects light down through the negative (just like a movie projector) onto a piece of light-sensitive paper.
The projected image "burns" the photograph onto the paper, creating a "positive" print—a negative of a negative makes a positive! (Fun fact: This is where the Photoshop burn tool got its name.)
As this happens, I block and expose different parts of the image to the light of the enlarger to craft a unique look by hand. I also use colored filters to add or remove contrast. This takes a bit of experimentation (and a few sheets of practice paper) to get right, but is part of the fun of making analog prints!
.
PHOTOSHOP
A world before
Here I'm using a tool to add light to the corners of the image, which will create a vignette effect in the final print.
I then take the image and place it in a developer solution, just like with the film from earlier.
This is the most exciting part of the process: Using a tool called a safelight, I can watch the print come to life in the solution, right in front of my eyes.
I desensitize the photograph to light, then use a thin paintbrush to meticulously fill in any blemishes or marks caused by dust on the negative when printing, and finally mount the print within a beautiful conservation-grade white mat.
Voila! A handcrafted,
ONE-OF-A-KIND PRINT
The most exciting part—watching the photograph come to life!
WHY NOT SCAN THE FILM AND PRINT USING A DIGITAL INKJET PRINTER?
Believe me, I’ve tried—I’ve bought countless types of papers, inks and even printers in an attempt to emulate the look and feel of a traditional silver-gelatin photographic print. Though some come close, there's just nothing like the real thing. Plus, I just love the process!
WHY BLACK IN WHITE AS OPPOSED TO COLOR?
Though I print both color and black and white in the darkroom, I often prefer printing in black and white. Black & white is timeless, giving your photograph a classic look and feel that stays relevant as time passes. Plus, no matter how they’re printed, color photographs tend to fade much quicker than black & white ones. (Think: old family photos that turned yellow.) A black and white print will stand the test of time without any fading, maintaining its rich tonality for literally centuries. That’s a win-win in my book!
WHY DOES MY BLACK & WHITE PRINT HAVE A SLIGHT RED OR PURPLE HUE?
After printing is complete, your photograph may have been toned in a special chemical bath called selenium. This increases contrast, adds depth, and also increases archivability. Depending on the type of paper used and length in the bath, selenium will also cause a subtle color shift. This shift is intentional and is part of the artistic vision of your print!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
And there you have it: from start to finish, a good old-fashioned photographic print, the way they were crafted for over 100 years.
In a world where we spend most of our lives on our digital devices, I think it's especially meaningful to receive something entirely crafted by hand.
I have so much fun printing in the darkroom—I hope you love your print as much as I loved making it!
MADE WITH LOVE FOR YOU
