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Black & white darkroom printing workshop

Black & white darkroom printing workshop

£75.00
£75.00
Sale Sold
Paper

Bring a friend and you both receive 20% off!

Workshop dates

Your order confirmation will include a unique booking link, which you can use to book a timeslot that suits you. Evening and weekend slots over the next month are available. For any bookings beyond the next month, please get in touch with us directly. 

  • All chemistry and equipment is provided.
  • Enough paper to print multiple images, including test strips.
  • Full staff support during the entire process of framing, printing and developing of your images.

Location

Hosted within Pollard Yard, on the outskirts of Manchester city centre, our community darkroom is a mere 2-minute stroll from the Holt Town tram stop, and a leisurely walk from the scenic Ancoats marina. We have on-site parking available for guests traveling by car.

Unit 61, Pollard Yard, 
15 Pollard Street East,
Manchester

M40 7QX

Group bookings

We run a small community darkroom and recommend any bookings of more than three people per session be booked via email. Contact us directly to discuss any small group bookings.

Gifting

Colour film developing can seem complicated from the outside, but it doesn’t have to be. Our new C41 film developing gift box is designed to make it approachable and enjoyable — combining tools, materials, and guidance in one place. It’s an ideal starting point for beginners or anyone looking for a creative, tactile project to dive into.

 

    This workshop can be purchased as part of a bundle, which groups multiple lessons into a single package. Bundled workshops offer a more in-depth learning experience spread over multiple dates and provide better value compared to booking each one separately.

    Introduction to black & white darkroom bundle
    This workshop bundle offers a hands-on introduction to the full black & white process - from developing your own film then returning to printing your images in the darkroom. It's an ideal starting point for beginners.
    More info

    Advanced black & white darkroom printing bundle
    This workshop bundle focuses on black & white darkroom printing. You'll return to our darkroom multiple times to develop skills and work on several images - perfect for those who want to learn the darkroom printing process in depth.
    More info
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Bring your images to life in our black & white printing workshop. We provide everything you need to explore the art of B&W darkroom printing, including enough paper and chemistry to print multiple images. 

We cover various techniques required to produce high quality prints of your 35mm or 120 black & white negatives, including dodging and burning, contrast filters, split grade printing, and masking and framing your final print. 

If you don’t yet have a developed roll of film, why not try our black & white film developing workshop.

At the end of the workshop, you not only leave with newfound skills and a collection of beautifully hand printed photos, but also with a deeper appreciation for the darkroom process.

Darkroom paper included

All necessary chemistry and equipment is included and darkroom paper is provided in during the workshop. While some paper will be used for test prints, attendees often leave with at least 2-4 images per workshop, depending on the sheets included.

The process, step by step

  • 1. Choose the negatives you want to print

    We begin by looking through your negatives together and choosing images that will translate well into prints. You’ll learn how to read a negative, understand density and contrast, and decide what you want to focus on before stepping under the enlarger.

  • 2. Learn the enlarger and shape the image

    You’ll be guided through using the enlarger to project your negative onto photographic paper. This is where framing, exposure, and contrast come into play, and where small adjustments start to shape the final print. The focus is on learning by doing, with time to experiment and refine.

  • 3. Develop and reveal your print

    Your exposed paper is developed by hand in trays, watching the image appear in front of you. You’ll learn the full printing process, from development and fixing through to washing, leaving with finished prints and a clear understanding of how to repeat the process on your own.
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Darkroom location

Hosted within SeeSaw, our community darkroom sits right at the heart of Manchester city centre. It’s a short walk from either Oxford Road or Manchester Piccadilly train station, making it simple to reach and easy to fit into a day of creating, experimenting, and printing.

Still have questions?

If you have any questions about our workshops, membership scheme or the facilities available in our community darkroom, please don't hesitate to get in touch.