Print Guide: Best Ways to Print Your Film and Digital Photos

In today’s digital world, most of us view our photos on small smartphone screens but there’s something truly special about holding a real photographic print in your hands. Whether it’s a memory you want to preserve, a piece of art you’ve created, or a moment you want to gift to someone, a physical print gives your image lasting impact.

At The Darkroom, we make it easy to turn your film or digital photos into beautiful, professionally printed images. Whether you shoot with 35mm, 120, or even your smartphone, we offer high-quality photographic prints with the convenience of ordering through our website or mobile app.

There’s Nothing Like a Print

While scans we provide look great, there’s just no substitute for a real print. Seeing your image on paper brings out texture, tone, and emotion in a way digital screens can’t match.

We offer three scan resolutions, each designed to support specific print sizes:

• Standard Scan – Great for prints up to 5×7
• Enhanced Scan – Ideal for prints up to 11×14
• Super Scan – High resolution, perfect for poster-size prints

Scans are saved to your account, so you can order prints right away or come back and print anytime – whether from your film scans, digital camera, or smartphone.

We offer two types of true photographic prints using traditional silver halide paper (not inkjet), both available in a variety of sizes:

How to Choose Your Finish

• Glossy prints are sharp and vibrant, ideal for well-lit, glare-free spaces.
• Matte prints have a subtle, non-reflective look – great for bright rooms or handling.
• With border: Easier to handle and ideal for archival storage or mounting.
• Without border: Clean, edge-to-edge prints – perfect for framing.
  

What Makes Our Prints Different?

Not all prints are created equal. Most labs today use inkjet or dye-sublimation printers – processes that layer ink or dye onto the surface of coated paper. While these methods are quick and affordable, they simply can’t match the depth, richness, or longevity of true photographic prints.

At The Darkroom, we use traditional silver halide photographic paper – for both color and black and white prints. These prints are made by exposing light-sensitive paper to light. The result is deep blacks, smooth tonal transitions, great detail retention, and superior archival stability.

Whether you choose our Fuji color prints or Ilford black and white prints, you’re getting the real thing – true photographic prints! It’s a level of quality that not only looks better, but lasts longer – and you’ll notice the difference the moment you hold one in your hands.

Order today at TheDarkroom.com or through our mobile app and see your work the way it was meant to be seen: in print.