Blog

Choosing Darkroom Paper Surfaces: Gloss, Matte or Textured

Use this darkroom paper surface guide to pick gloss, matte or textured fibre paper by subject, light and handling. Includes fibre based paper finish a...

Slide Scanning Hood vs Flatbed: Which Gives Better Results?

Compare a mounted slide scanning hood with a flatbed scanner for 35mm slide digitising. Learn which setup handles glare, dust, and volume, and when ea...

Fotospeed Retouching Set DY10: What's Inside and How to Use It

A practical walkthrough of the Fotospeed Retouching Set DY10: what the three bottles do, how to spot tone black and white prints, and how to hand colo...

How to Test a Vintage Camera's Shutter Speed at Home

A practical home method for checking vintage camera shutter accuracy using an optical tester and a free app, with steps for slow and fast speeds.

Studio Flash Modelling Lamps: What They Do and How to Use Them

A modelling lamp is a continuous bulb inside a studio flash head that shows you where the flash will fall. Here's how to use one, choose wattage, and ...

Choosing a Film Scanner: Flatbed vs Dedicated Compared

Compare flatbed and dedicated film scanners by resolution, film format, and workflow so you can pick the right one for 35mm, medium format, or a mixed...

Why Are My Negatives Scratched? Causes and Fixes

Scratched negatives usually come from grit, squeegees, or dry emulsion. Diagnose the cause, fix the frame, and stop before you polish away the image.

Gelatin vs Resin Coated Darkroom Paper: Which to Choose

Fibre-based and resin-coated papers behave very differently in the tray and on the wall. Compare drying, toning, texture and cost so you can pick the ...

How to Mix and Store Black & White Film Developers Safely

Learn how to mix black and white film developer, dilute stock solutions, store working solutions, and extend developer shelf life with safe darkroom h...

How to Cut and Store 6x6cm Negatives in Print-Thru Pages

Cut 120 film into strips of three 6x6cm frames on a clean, dust-free surface, then file each strip in print-through acetate pages stored upright in an...

Innova Olmec Photo Pearl vs Fotospeed Matt Ultra Paper

We compare Innova Olmec Premium Photo Pearl A4 and Fotospeed Matt Ultra 240 roll to help you pick the right fine art inkjet paper for your prints.

Dial Thermometer vs Digital for Film Processing Chemicals

A dial thermometer wins on cost and darkroom durability; a digital probe wins on speed and precision. Here's how to pick for C-41, E-6 or black-and-wh...