Unlike traditional photographs which are printed on resin coated (RC) paper, archival prints are made using a cotton rag paper known as fiber paper. Light sensitive silver emulsion is coated directly on the paper‘s fiber. The heavy silver saturation produces images that are not only beautiful and rich in tone but the end product is an acid-free photograph that will last for generations.

Toning A Photograph

Black and white fiber paper is made in either a cool or warm variation of gray. Toning serves a number of purposes. The feel of a photo can be enhanced by toning. For instance, the warmth of the subject can be increased or a scene cooled by using toning. Toning increases the life of the print by replacing the silver in the photograph with a more stable metal contained in the toner. Toner colors include: Sepia (warm brownish-red), Brown (warm), and Selenium (cool bluish-purple on cool paper or umber on warm paper).

Our Archival Prints are printed and toned by hand just as they were a century ago.