fotoprints

Fotoprints are physical reproductions of photographs produced on light-sensitive materials and then fixed and washed to create a permanent image. They are the standard form in which photographs are viewed in albums, galleries, and archives, and they can originate from film negatives, digital files, or scans of originals. The term is commonly used in European contexts to refer to photographic prints in general.

Historically, early prints included albumen and salted paper prints from the mid-19th century. The gelatin silver print, developed from negatives and exposed on light-sensitive gelatin emulsion, became the dominant black-and-white process from the late 19th century onward. In color, processes like dye-transfer, gum bichromate, and platinum-palladium have produced various tonal characteristics and archival qualities. Cyanotype prints produce a characteristic blue color.

In contemporary practice, many fotoprints are produced digitally using inkjet or pigment-based inks on archival papers, with giclée being a marketing term for high-quality prints. These digital prints may be coated or bound and can be produced in any size. Some photographers also employ traditional analog processes for aesthetic reasons.

Printing methods include contact printing, where the negative is placed directly on the printing paper, and enlarging, where an enlarger projects a magnified image onto paper. Finishing steps include washing, toning, drying, and, for display, mounting or framing. Preservation concerns focus on avoiding light exposure, humidity, extreme temperatures, and incompatible materials; acid-free mats and UV-protective glazing help extend life.

Fotoprints are distinct from negatives and from digital displays, though the boundaries between these formats are increasingly blurred as scans and digital workflows become common. They remain a primary means by which photographs are stored, shown, and traded.