Darkroom Lab
At Hank’s, traditional black-and-white darkroom printing remains at the heart of our practice. Working from original film negatives, our printers produce archival gelatin silver prints using fiber-based photographic papers and time-tested darkroom techniques.
Each print is individually crafted, allowing precise control over tonal range, contrast, and local adjustments through burning and dodging. This hands-on process ensures that every image is interpreted with care and attention to detail.
Printing from Film Negatives
We work with a wide range of film formats, from small-format 35mm negatives to Extra large-format 20”×24” sheet film. Each negative is evaluated individually to determine the best printing approach, ensuring the final print reflects the full tonal potential of the original image.
Toning
Toning is an important part of the darkroom printing process and can enhance both the aesthetic qualities and archival stability of a photographic print.
At Hank’s, prints can be toned using traditional archival toning methods to adjust image tone and improve print permanence. Toning can subtly deepen blacks, shift image color, and increase the longevity of the print.
Negative Processing
Proper negative processing is essential for producing high-quality photographic prints. Hank’s provides black-and-white negative processing designed to preserve the full tonal information captured in the original exposure.
Our processing methods are designed to maintain consistency, detail, and archival stability, ensuring that negatives remain suitable for printing and long-term preservation.