Frequently Asked Questions

This extraordinary medium was developed in the 1960`s by the Swiss company Ciba-Geigy to produce the highest quality photographic prints directly from colour slides. The process was later purchased by Ilford Photo and renamed to "Ilfochrome".

The natural beauty of an Ilfochrome print is unsurpassed! Due to the Azo dyes incorporated into the paper emulsion, Ilfochrome prints emit a life-like appearance unlike any other modern day photographic paper. Azo dyes are legendary for their incredible colour purity, sharpness, archival stability and iridescent three-dimensional realism unmatched in photographic art.

Ilfochrome has been commercially available since 1963 and has proven to be the medium of choice for museums, art galleries and discerning collectors of colour fine art photography worldwide.

Extremely rare. With the advent of cheaper digital technology traditional Ilfochrome printing has declined significantly worldwide. Today there are fewer master printers who possess both the skill and diligence to produce an exceptional quality Ilfochrome print from a traditional darkroom.

The printing process where one can spend a week perfecting a print by hand has no place in today's fast paced commercial world and is quickly becoming a lost art. Hand printed Ilfochrome photographs will only continue to rise in value as time goes on.

The surface of an Ilfochrome print is extremely fragile and even cotton will scratch the gloss finish if too much pressure is applied. Dust may be removed by using dry compressed air and a soft brush. Be careful not to talk directly down over the prints as droplets of saliva will cause surface marks and may cause the colours to change permanently. An artist's chamois or PecPads with a few drops of Pec-12 solution can be used to remove oily fingerprints without scratching the print.

Due to the glossy nature of an Ilfochrome print any texture in the substrate used to mount the photograph will be apparent in the final product. We have found the smooth surface of aluminium to be the material of choice to ensure the mirror like quality of the Ilfochrome print is retained. Mounting also completely eliminates the possibility of the print distorting within the frame due to the fluctuating humidity levels within the home. All photographs are mounted leaving a 2-inch border surrounding the image for ease of handling. This aluminium mount is standard and included in the price of the art piece unless otherwise specified.

All photographs are sold as limited editions with a price increase as fewer images remain in the edition. Once the end of the edition has been reached there will be no future editions or photographs available for sale of that particular image. Each photograph comes complete with a Certificate of Authenticity signed and dated by the artist.

The best method for displaying your print is to hang it in an area devoid of direct sunlight. If possible avoid displaying your framed art piece adjacent to large window areas that could give off reflections. Although more costly, framing using high quality museum glass will also aid in eliminating reflection. It is highly recommended that prints be displayed under an overhead light source. A daylight-balanced bulb (4100 - 4700 Kelvin) will bring out the maximum depth, colour and brilliance of the photograph. The finest bulbs and fixtures can be purchased through Solux company (www.solux.net) and fit directly into standard track light rails. Installing a dimmer switch lets you adjust the intensity for greatest effect.

All photographs are carefully packaged with protective wrapping material and placed into a custom built wooden box to ensure safe delivery. We offer free shipping worldwide for any original Ilfochrome print standard rate. There will be an added charge for any express shipments.