PRINTING PROCESS
Pochron Studios’ printing process is built around the needs of each client and project. It typically begins with a one-on-one meeting with master printer Julie Pochron—an opportunity to discuss color, art direction, and the broader intentions of the work.
From there, a range of test prints is produced to explore scale, color, paper, and surface. Clients review these tests and either move forward to final prints or continue refining through additional rounds.
The workflow is flexible and collaborative. Artists can engage as closely as they like—whether seeking hands-on involvement or targeted input at key stages. Scanning, retouching, and mounting can all be integrated into the process as needed.
Pochron Studios produces traditional C-prints, digital C-prints, and inkjet pigment prints (giclée).
Across all processes, the studio maintains exacting color standards—each print resolved with precision, consistency, and lasting stability.
C-PRINTS (Chromogenic Prints)
A chromogenic (C-print), or silver halide print, is a photographic print made by exposing color photographic paper and developing it using RA-4 chemistry.
At Pochron Studios, C-prints can be produced from film in the darkroom or from a digital file using a Durst Lambda, which exposes the paper with lasers. In both cases, the paper is processed using Fuji RA-4 chemistry. While the method of exposure differs, the material and development process remain the same—resulting in true C-prints.
We use Fujicolor Crystal Archive Professional Paper as our standard material, known for its color accuracy and archival performance. Independent testing by Wilhelm Imaging Research has shown Fujicolor Crystal Archive papers to be among the most fade-resistant silver halide papers currently in production.
Matte and glossy surfaces are available, along with a range of specialty options to suit specific surface and tonal qualities.
TRADITIONAL ANALOG C-PRINTING
Analog C-printing is the original printing method at Pochron Studios. Julie Pochron has been printing professionally in the darkroom since 1995, developing a deep, hands-on understanding of color through direct exposure and process—where color is not corrected, but actively shaped.
Our color darkrooms accommodate color negatives up to 4×5 inches, producing analog C-prints up to 30×40 inches. Each print is made with careful attention to color balance, density, and the physical qualities of the final image, refined by eye through an iterative process of testing and adjustment.
Analog printing offers a distinct approach to color: slower, tactile, and responsive to the material itself. In contrast, digital C-prints allow for greater precision and repeatability from a file—both methods ultimately converge in the same RA-4 process, but arrive there through different paths.
DIGITAL C-PRINTING
Digital C-printing is a core process at Pochron Studios. Working from film scans or digital files, this method allows for precise control over color and scale while maintaining the material qualities of traditional photographic prints.
Our Durst Lambda 131 functions as a digital enlarger, using lasers to expose the image onto C-print paper, which is then processed through RA-4 chemistry.
Print sizes range from 8×10 inches to 50×144 inches. Each print is made with careful attention to color balance, density, and detail, translating digital files into refined, exhibition-quality prints.
Digital C-printing offers a direct and controlled approach to color, where adjustments are made within the file before exposure. In contrast, analog printing shapes color through light and material in the darkroom—two distinct approaches that meet in the same photographic process. (see Digital Services)
INKJET PIGMENT PRINTING
Inkjet pigment printing is offered at Pochron Studios as a complementary process to photographic printing, providing a wide range of paper options and surface qualities.
Our Epson SureColor SC-P20000 uses a nine-color ink set, including four grays, allowing for nuanced color reproduction and strong tonal control in both color and black-and-white prints.
We work primarily with Canson and Hahnemühle papers, selected for their quality and archival properties, free of acids and optical brighteners. We also work with a wide range of additional papers and can source or test materials to find the right surface for each project.
Print sizes range from 8×10 inches to 60×120 inches. Each print is produced with careful attention to color, surface, and longevity. Independent testing by Wilhelm Imaging Research has rated pigment prints for extended archival stability, with longevity varying by material and display conditions.
Inkjet printing offers a material-driven approach, where the choice of paper becomes integral to the final image.
