My New DIY Contact Printing Build

Echoes of the Ozarks by Tim Layton - timlaytonfineart.com/ozarks

In this video, I share my new DIY contact printing build that Tim Jr. and I made. I really love the results, and it was super easy to build and get into production. It makes gallery-quality split-grade silver gelatin contact prints from 4×5 to 20×24. Hopefully, it will inspire you to create something similar if you want a simple and effective way to make professional quality silver gelatin contact prints.

If you enjoy slowing down with film, darkroom printing, and meaningful photography, consider subscribing to my YouTube Channel. I share new videos each week focused on simple tools, timeless techniques, and the quiet joy of analog.

If you’re passionate about analog photography but also value a simpler, more sustainable way to work, then the Darkroom Diary Premium Membership is exactly what you’ve been looking for. As a member, you’ll gain access to my master-level analog workflows—now updated to reflect a more minimalist hybrid approach that blends the soul of analog with the flexibility of digital tools. From large format paper and film negatives to scanning, editing, and archival inkjet printing, I’ll walk you through the entire process in an approachable, thoughtful way. This membership isn’t just about high-quality, proven techniques—it’s an invitation to join a community of like-minded artists who appreciate analog photography and want to grow without the burden of maintaining a full darkroom.

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Published by Tim Layton

Tim Layton is a photographer based in the Missouri Ozarks whose work focuses on telling the stories of the Wild Horses of Missouri and the landscape they inhabit within the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. He documents the horses over time through field photography, written observations, and long-term storytelling. Selected images are also transformed into handmade silver gelatin prints in his traditional darkroom.

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