ECP Opens Focal Point

Tonight saw the opening of an exciting project which took 4 years in the making. Focal Point is the new colour managed edit and print space in the Edinburgh College Photography dept. It started with the idea to build a professional digital edit print space replacing the darkroom with a purpose built facility which now houses our 2 large format and desktop printers, Hotpress mounting, daylight viewing booth, print trimmers, colour managed iMac computers, scanners and critique room. But, the darkroom has not vanished, we built a new but smaller version to facilitate those of the analogue persuasion.

The opening was attended by a small group of photographers, alumni, Associate Principals and staff - those that helped us get it over the line. It's not easy having a dream which will cost £50K in the making but thanks to all the hard work from staff who designed the interior, contributed to the planning, the college facility team who physically built the space and the generous support from one particular Alumni and Ex Board member Stephen Dunn, that dream became a reality.

Focal Point will now offer our students a place to socialise, retouch, edit and print in the same manner the darkroom built a community and learning space. The facility will offer a range of fine art print papers, Wacom graphics tablet retouching stations, scanning, and an up to date learning and teaching space.

Rather than the end this is just the beginning of what is to come. Watch this space.