Metro Imaging

Metro Imaging, professional photographic laboratory in London

Metro Imaging is a professional photographic laboratory based in London with more than four decades of activity in the industry. The company presents itself as one of the leading professional laboratories in Europe for fine art printing, film processing, retouching, mounting, framing and exhibition services. Its team is made up of multidisciplinary professionals who advise clients to adapt each service to their specific needs.

Printing services

The laboratory offers several types of photographic printing, each aimed at a specific type of work:

• Professional C-Type printing: conventional photographic prints from digital files, produced on their Lambda equipment. According to the company, they combine the archival and tonal benefits of traditional photographic papers with the advantages of digital printing. It is indicated as the most suitable option for colour photography.
• Fine art giclée printing: gallery-quality inkjet printing on fine art watercolour paper. The laboratory holds Hahnemühle and Canson certified studio status and has more than 30 years of experience in photographic printing. It is aimed at artistic illustration, although it also accepts colour and black and white photographs.
• Black and white printing: developed in collaboration with Harman Technology, it produces genuine black and white silver gelatin prints from digital files, in fibre-based finish (ideal for exhibition quality) and in resin-coated (suitable for most black and white work).
• Direct to media printing: the image is printed directly onto the substrate chosen by the client, such as paper, card, aluminium, Perspex, canvas, wood or slate. Their Jetrix UV flatbed printer can print on any flat surface up to 3 m x 2 m and less than 10 cm thick. To check the suitability of the material, they offer test prints of approximately A4 size.
• Vinyl printing: they use Phototex vinyl for its giclée finish and its ease of self-adhesive application to a wall or mounting substrate. It is printed in strips of 1.5 m x 3 m that can be applied like wallpaper to cover a wall or an entire interior.

Mounting and framing

The bespoke framing service is carried out by hand by the company's finishing team, and accepts works up to 10 ft x 6 ft. As for photographic mounting, the laboratory works with surfaces such as MDF and foamex: MDF for its rigidity and foamboard for its lightness and versatility. Reverse Perspex is used for vibrant colours and aluminium provides a modern finish.

Film scanning

The photographic film scanning department has a drum scanner and flatbed scanner, capable of capturing detail and tone, as well as flatbed scanning and CCD scans. For those who prefer traditional methods, the company also offers film scanning solutions.

Track record and clients

The company maintains long-term relationships with clients in the photographic and publishing fields. Iconic Images has worked with Metro Imaging for ten years printing fine art prints from the archives of Terry O'Neill, Norman Parkinson, Ed Caraeff and others. Photographer Mariano Vivanco declares fifteen years of collaboration and Mark Edwards notes that the laboratory has produced all his work over the last fifteen years, from publications and small exhibitions to museum shows. Robin Muir, of Vogue 100, highlights the work done for Vogue and the National Portrait Gallery.

Team and structure

Management is led by Ken Sethi as CEO and Howard Lee as Finance Director. The team includes client service managers, a print manager, senior print technicians, a framing manager, a senior framer, a scanner operator, a senior mounting technician, a production technician and a finance manager, among other roles.

Student services and exhibition production

The laboratory's catalogue includes a specific section of student prices and exhibition production services, as well as informative sections on giclée printing, large format photographic printing and the nature of a digital C-Type print.

Location and contact

1 Hurlingham Business Park, Sulivan Road, London, SW6 3DU · Phone: 020 7384 6200 · Email: enquiry@genesisimaging.co.uk