Darkroom Colour Printing
Colour Hand Printing for Photographic Excellence
Discover the artistry of C-Type hand printing, our darkroom process trusted by photographers and artists for its vibrant colours, smooth tonal gradations, and archival longevity. At Spectrum, our Master Printers combine decades of expertise with Fuji Crystal Archive papers to produce stunning, exhibition-ready prints directly from your colour negatives. Collaborate with our team to fine-tune colour corrections,produce proofs, on , gloss, or matt —paper each print is crafted to elevate your work. Ready to preserve your vision in archival-quality detail? Let Spectrum’s hand printing expertise transform your negatives into gallery standard prints.
Precision & Craftsmanship in Every Digital C-Type Print
Elevate your photography with C-Type printing, where cutting-edge technology meets traditional darkroom precision. Our ZBE Chromira printer exposes Fuji Crystal Archive papers with RGB continuous tone accuracy, achieving a resolution equivalent to 4,000dpi for razor-sharp clarity. Choose from Fuji Matt, Lustre or gloss for exhibition-grade finishes —all developed with an extra wash stage to ensure prints last up to 100 years in dark storage. C-Type printing isn’t just about colour fidelity; it’s about sustainability, too. We minimise waste with a colour-managed workflow that honours your Adobe ’98 or sRGB profiles, guaranteeing consistency from screen to print. Whether you’re printing large-format displays or intimate portraits, trust Spectrum to deliver C-Type printing results that captivate and endure. Start your project today and see why artists worldwide rely on our darkroom mastery.
In recent years we have seen the popularity of shooting film increase and after listening to our customers, we re-introduced darkroom colour printing to our range of photographic printing services. We offer several levels of service to suit your exact requirements.
Formats: 35mm, 120 (6 x 6, 6 x 7, 6 x 9 & 645) & 5 x 4
Studio service
This service includes consultation with a printer before printing and we can also accept prints for colour matching. No tests are provided and colour/density is left to the printer’s judgement after instructions have been given.
Give us a call on 01273 708222 or email us at hello@spectrumphoto.co.uk to get a quotation.
| inches | mm | Per print (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 x 8 | 254 x 203 | £18.00 |
| 12 x 10 | 305 x 254 | £25.00 |
| 12 x 16 | 305 x 406 | £32.00 |
| 20 x 16 | 508 x 406 | £45.00 |
| 20 x 24 | 508 x 610 | £55.00 |
Studio PLUS
When hand printing it is possible to produce different results from the same negative with just a slight adjustment to filtration or exposure. As an alternative to test prints, Studio PLUS offers you variations for your final print. This service is the same as the studio service but gives you two final prints with minor adjustments between them.
| inches | mm | Per print (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 x 8 | 254 x 203 | £25.00 |
| 12 x 10 | 305 x 254 | £35.00 |
| 12 x 16 | 305 x 406 | £45.00 |
| 20 x 16 | 508 x 406 | £65.00 |
| 20 x 24 | 508 x 610 | £80.00 |
Master service
This service gives you more control over the look of the final print and allows you to view test strips before the final print is produced.
| inches | mm | Per print (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 x 8 | 254 x 203 | £45.00 |
| 12 x 10 | 305 x 254 | £55.00 |
| 12 x 16 | 305 x 406 | £75.00 |
| 20 x 16 | 508 x 406 | £95.00 |
| 20 x 24 | 508 x 610 | £130.00 |
Edition prints
Editions are only available at the time of ordering studio or master hand prints.
| inches | mm | Per print (excl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 x 8 | 254 x 203 | £7.00 |
| 12 x 10 | 305 x 254 | £10.00 |
| 12 x 16 | 305 x 406 | £18.00 |
| 20 x 16 | 508 x 406 | £20.00 |
| 20 x 24 | 508 x 610 | £25.00 |
I have been working with Paul at Spectrum for 15 years or more. For analogue hand prints I would send him my own best attempt and he would always make an even better print. Spectrum have always been helpful, prepared to go that extra mile and have never let me down.
Tom Wood | Street Photographer