Hand coloring is performed with time-tested Marshall's brand photo oils on fiber base prints ONLY. The original photo oils were meant to add natural color to a B&W print with multiple layers of transparent oil paint formulated for photo papers. They were designed to bond with & sink into the fiber paper to become permanent after thoroughly drying (about 3-4 weeks).

This special hand color process takes additional time to perform properly, adding multiple layers for natural color & maintaining the archival quality of the photograph. We have a second-generation hand colorist on staff who teaches workshops in various hand coloring processes. You may wish to have spot color, full color, or simply match the color of a restoration to that of the original photograph.

Silver tarnishes in a photograph or negative the same way silver flatware or jewelry tarnish, because silver is a reactive metal to oxygen & other compounds. Toning a photograph or a negative creates a stable bond with the silver to keep it from reacting with the oxygen & other contaminants in the atmosphere where the print or negative is displayed or stored.

Toners were used in early photography to add life & stability to an image, as well as to change the tone's color temperature (warming or cooling a neutral tone image). It was also a way to create different colors such as reddish coppery or blue colors. These were unique & also helped to stabilize the silver in the print.

Post-Print Coloring B&W Photographs   HAND COLORING OF B&W PRINTS (FIBER PAPER ONLY) All hand coloring, partial or full, has an hourly rate of $75 per hour. PhotoArts Imaging will only hand color prints that we have produced by printing from your negative or as part of a restoration to match the original. Allow additional time for this service after printing (1 - 3 weeks depending upon the size & complexity of the coloring applied). Examples of sizes & prices for work performed at the time of a photo restoration: Size Price* 8x10 $ 75.00 11x14 $125.00 *PRICES MAY VARY FOR EXTENSIVE COLOR WORK   TONING FOR B&W PRINTS (archival processing) Sepia Toning (Variable Tones Available) - Add to Print Price 1 - 3 Prints 4th + Additional Prints 5x7 (or smaller) $12.50 $10.00 8x10 $15.00 $12.50 11x14 $25.00 $20.00 16x20 $50.00 $40.00 20x24 $77.50 $67.50 *To qualifiy for discounts, plus assure similar toner color, intensity & quality, additional prints must be processed in the same toner bath as first print. We mix each toner fresh for each job or order to guarantee consistency of the process & images.   Selenium or Special Color Toning - Add to Print Price 1 - 3 Prints 4th + Additional Prints 5x7 (or smaller) $12.50 $10.00 8x10 $15.00 $12.50 11x14 $25.00 $20.00 16x20 $50.00 $40.00 20x24 $77.50 $67.50     Traditional AGFA Viradon Toning (Selenium/Sepia mixture) - Add to Print Price 1 - 3 Prints 4th + Additional Prints 5x7 (or smaller) $12.50 $10.00 8x10 $15.00 $12.50 11x14 $25.00 $20.00 16x20 $50.00 $40.00 20x24 $77.50 $67.50     **We tone larger sized photographs. Please call for prices and availability of other toner colors. Pricing does not include 7% State Sales Tax for Mississippi residents.