Handmade Color Prints: RA-4 Printing with AGO
Handmade Color Prints: RA-4 Printing with AGO
There’s something special about a darkroom color print. It’s hard to explain until you hold one in your hands. A darkroom color print has depth. The reds are deeper, the shadows more nuanced. Skin tones feel real, not rendered. Highlights glow without feeling artificial. There’s richness—not just in the colors themselves, but in how they interact with the paper, how they shift slightly depending on the light, and how the entire image feels embedded in the material, not printed on top of it.
Digital prints are clean and sharp. But a darkroom color print has a presence. It feels like light captured on paper rather than reproduced. Even small imperfections—tiny color casts, slight softness—add to the feeling that the print is alive.
We’ve always loved film for its texture and character. Color printing in the darkroom takes that further. It’s not just about tones—it’s about emotion. When you get it right, the colors carry more than information. They carry mood, memory, and time.
Download complete PDF guide for RA-4 prints here
Lately, we’ve been exploring what it means to make color prints at home—not digitally, not through a lab, but at home or in a local darkroom with basic tools and a bit of patience. This blog post focuses on RA-4 printing using REEL-Paper 5 and processing everything with the AGO Film Processor.
Why Color Printing, and Why Now?
Most people develop color film only to scan it. That’s understandable—it’s fast, flexible, and convenient. But color printing, especially from negatives, is a whole different experience. It slows you down. It forces you to look more closely at your photos. And the results, when they work, are rewarding in a way that digital never quite is.
Before AGO, there really weren’t many practical options for RA-4 printing at home. The JOBO processor exists, but it’s expensive, large, and better suited for community darkrooms than home setups. The rotary tube method is cheaper but lacks temperature control—you’re left guessing or improvising, which often leads to inconsistent results.
AGO changes that. It brings proper RA-4 processing within reach for small setups. It automatically controls temperature and adjusts process times based on real-time readings. No more stress about hitting exactly 35°C—AGO does the work, and your prints stay consistent.
REEL-Paper 5 is a custom reel designed for developing darkroom paper—up to 20×25 cm (8×10″)—inside a standard Paterson 5-reel tank. Paired with the AGO, it transforms the way you can process paper at home. No trays, no mess—just light-tight, consistent processing with full control.
You can use REEL-Paper 5 not only for RA-4 color paper, but also for black-and-white paper, and even sheet film. It opens up a lot of possibilities for home printing, especially when combined with AGO.
The Setup: AGO, Paterson Tank and a Color Enlarger
Beyond what we’ve already mentioned, the most important piece of equipment is a color enlarger. You can use an aftermarket unit or, for example, an Intrepid color enlarger, which is affordable and reliable.
Here’s the full setup we used:
- AGO film processor
- Paterson 5-reel tank
- REEL-Paper 5
- RA-4 chemistry (we used the Bellini kit)
- Basic enlarger with a color head
- Focus finder
- Sous vide heater (recommended for precise chemical heating)
- Masking frame (optional)
- Print dryer (optional)
If you’ve made black-and-white prints in trays before, you’ll find this process cleaner and faster. And unlike traditional RA-4 printing, you don’t need to keep the chemicals at a strict 35°C—AGO measures the temperature and adjusts the processing time accordingly, so you get consistent results.