Photo Retouching & Coloring Tools

Long before the advent of digital photography, film photographers manipulated and retouched their images in the darkroom. Techniques like masking, dodging, and burning are common among film photographers and are still taught in film and print developing classes.

Hand-coloring photographs and retouching film prints are less common practices than they used to be. However, with the right equipment you can still take advantage of these classic techniques.

Photo Retouching in the Darkroom

Negative and print retouching and coloring techniques offer a range of opportunities for film photographers to correct flaws and add artistry to their final photographic prints. 

While many modern photographers prefer to digitally scan film and perform corrections in post-processing programs, some purists, archivists, and photo artists use paints, dyes, and pencils to achieve the same effects.

Oil vs Acrylic Paint for Hand Coloring

Hand-coloring photographs is a technique for introducing true-to-life color to black-and-white photographic prints. Oil and acrylic are the two types of paint most commonly used in hand coloring. 

Oil traditionally carries a higher price tag and it’s thicker and more opaque when dry. Oil also takes longer to dry, so you can correct painting mistakes as you go with minimal frustration.

If you want to create a metallic or iridescent look in your painted photographs, try a metallic acrylic painting kit.

Liquid Dye for Retouching

Liquid dye is similar to watercolor in thickness and color opacity. To achieve a more vibrant color, you’ll need to apply multiple coats of dye to your black-and-white photographs. 

Keep in mind that dye is more susceptible to fading from UV light and exposure to the elements. Once you finish retouching your photographs, it's a good idea to protect them under archival glass.

Pencils for Archiving and Coloring

Colored pencils are a simple, mess-free option for hand-coloring photographs. While traditional colored pencils are usually denser and more difficult to use on photos, colored pencils designed for hand-coloring are softer and apply more easily on photographic paper.

Archiving pencils mark the back of photographic paper without showing through or introducing acids or chemicals that will degrade your prints. If you’re looking for a safe way to include info such as developing details or exposure information, an archiving pencil is always the best choice.

Darkroom Retouching Accessories From Names You Trust

Marshall and Archival Methods are the top two names in hand retouching and coloring for photographic prints. Choose from individual paints, pencils, and brushes, or select a ready-to-use paint kit for all the supplies you’ll need to get started.