How can I make a darkroom in a small condominium

[kl122002]

Hello, everyone,

I am a beginner and I came from Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, we are used to live in a very small condominium, however, I want to make a small, simple darkroom in my washroom. Can anyone give me some advce?

(Ps. I am a Chinese, my English is not very good, I hope I haven't make any mistakes in this post.)

 

[student]

Hello, everyone,

I am a beginner and I came from Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, we are used to live in a very small condominium, however, I want to make a small, simple darkroom in my washroom. Can anyone give me some advce?

(Ps. I am a Chinese, my English is not very good, I hope I haven't make any mistakes in this post.)[/QUOTE

Do not apologise for your English. Mine is bad too!

The most important thing about a darkroom is that it should be dark! Make sure that ALL light gaps are closed. My suggestion is oversized black velvet drapes over the window and door.

1 You do not need a darkroom to process films.

2 Your darkroom is for printing only. Make sure there is a stable platform for your enlarger. Use an amber light if you are using variable contrast papers. Some safelights are not very safe. Don't try to save money on this. Get a good one. Kodak safelight can be bought on the second hand market on ebay

3 Make sure all electricals are not in contact with water.

4 You need 4 trays, for developer, stopbath, fixer, and a holding bath. The holding bath is to hold all your prints before washing. Do not worry about washing the prints till the printing session is over. Then wash the prints under running water.

You will need to have a place where you can use a tungsten light to see and analyse the prints afer fixing. Do not view prints under flourescent lights. I think a white perspex board place in the sink can serve as a viewing board.

5 Do not try to spent too much time in the darkroom because you will not have adequate ventilation at all. One to two hours should be OK.

If you have specific questions, please write again.

 

[kl122002]

Hello, everyone,

I am a beginner and I came from Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, we are used to live in a very small condominium, however, I want to make a small, simple darkroom in my washroom. Can anyone give me some advce?

(Ps. I am a Chinese, my English is not very good, I hope I haven't make any mistakes in this post.)[/QUOTE

Do not apologise for your English. Mine is bad too!

The most important thing about a darkroom is that it should be dark! Make sure that ALL light gaps are closed. My suggestion is oversized black velvet drapes over the window and door.

1 You do not need a darkroom to process films.

2 Your darkroom is for printing only. Make sure there is a stable platform for your enlarger. Use an amber light if you are using variable contrast papers. Some safelights are not very safe. Don't try to save money on this. Get a good one. Kodak safelight can be bought on the second hand market on ebay

3 Make sure all electricals are not in contact with water.

4 You need 4 trays, for developer, stopbath, fixer, and a holding bath. The holding bath is to hold all your prints before washing. Do not worry about washing the prints till the printing session is over. Then wash the prints under running water.

You will need to have a place where you can use a tungsten light to see and analyse the prints afer fixing. Do not view prints under flourescent lights. I think a white perspex board place in the sink can serve as a viewing board.

5 Do not try to spent too much time in the darkroom because you will not have adequate ventilation at all. One to two hours should be OK.

If you have specific questions, please write again.

Thankyou very much for your advice.

I don't think I can add a safe light and add some electricity spply inside my washroom. It is because the size of the washroom is limitted and I don't want to buy too much equipment.(In Hong Kong, these equipment are over HKD$10K or more! It is too expensive for me!)

Moreover, there are many differcent kinds of chemicals for fixing, developing and stopping. I want to know which one is the best and how much in your counry.

 

[student]

Thankyou very much for your advice.

I don't think I can add a safe light and add some electricity spply inside my washroom. It is because the size of the washroom is limitted and I don't want to buy too much equipment.(In Hong Kong, these equipment are over HKD$10K or more! It is too expensive for me!)

Moreover, there are many differcent kinds of chemicals for fixing, developing and stopping. I want to know which one is the best and how much in your counry.

1 You will need a safelight. Otherwise you cannot see what you are doing!

2 As far as electrical outlet is concerned, you need only one. To connect to the enlarger and to the safelight. But make sure this line do not get wet!

3 There are many different chemicals. Yes. But for a beginner, use

One Paper
One Developer
One Stop Bath
One Fixer.

Use this set up before you try to use other things. Do not get obssessive about combinations. Get what is available in your country. Know your paper and chemicals before you experiment firther.

 

[student]

Oh, one more thing.

There is no such thing as "best" chemicals. They all have different characteristics when used in different ways.

All the major brands are good. I use Ilford Multigrade developer, Ilford stop bath, and Ilford Rapid Fixer.

Others use Kodak dextol, Kodak Stop bath and Kodak Rapid Fixer.

Doesn't matter!

 

[kex]

for the safe light,u can change the existing light in ur washroom to a philip safe bulb which cost S$25.

i have not heard of any battery powered enlarger so a power point is a must..u can buy an extension cord to tap the power from ur power outlet to the washroom..

darkroom chemicals are really affordable,dun worry about the cost.

for printing, u can do so with a developer and fixer,that's all..

 

[kl122002]

I want to Thanks everyone very much again!
1.)But because of the washing machine have been already used the electric socket( which is direct connected) so I can't add any supply inside the washroom. What can I do? Can anyone give me some advice?
2.)I wanted to develop some B&W negatives. Which developer, fixer, etc should I chose? I heard some friends in Hong Kong said that Kodak D-76 is very useful, Is that true?
3.)If I don't buy trays for developing the films, can I use the tanks? I think it is cheapter and more useful that trays.
4.) I want to know what 'Metol' is. I always found this word when I ask my friends about developer. What is it used for?

 

[student]

1 If you cannot rig up a electrical outlet, you can forget about printing. The ekectrical supply can come from outside the bathroom. Use an extension cord as Kex mentioned.

2 If you stick to Kodak D76, Kodak Stop bath and Kodak Rapid fixer, you will do very well for almsot any films.

3 Tray devekopments are only for sheet films, not for your Canon A1 which uses 35 mm films. So don't even think about trays for film development. Your tanks will do very well.

4 Metol and other chemicals are ingredients in deveopers. Don't confuse yourself with these things at this stage of your photography, or even for most professionals!

 

[hongsien]

I used to have a small darkroom too when I was still in Holland, about the same size as your washroom I think, it was about 1 meter wide and 2 meter long.........

I made a table in an 'L' shape, and placed the enlarger on the short side,and the trays on the longer side (left of the enlarger). I used a large deep tray for the last washing step (water) on the floor, to keep the prints in after fixing them.

For convenience I used a high chair that rotates, so after printing, I just turn my body and I can develop the paper....etc. very easy! I find it even more useful to have a small darkroom and using this rotatable chair as I don't need to walk around which can be very tiring!

Not sure if this is helpful to you, I am thinking how you are going to place the enlarger in the washroom, on top of the washing machine is not possible. Maybe make a table (for the trays) that goes on top of the washing machine and that can be folded away upwards when you want to use the washing machine.......the table for your enlarger can be placed permanently next to the machine ....

I am in HK too, in Tuen Mun.

Hong Sien

 

[sabahan]

Since you are in HK,I know that the bath room in HK is really very very small,try to loan a dark room instead,is more cheaper.loading film you only need a changing bag which can be purchase easily.

 

[kex]

y dun u use ur room as a darkroom instead ?

surely there are power supply in there ?

 

[kl122002]

I used to have a small darkroom too when I was still in Holland, about the same size as your washroom I think, it was about 1 meter wide and 2 meter long.........

I made a table in an 'L' shape, and placed the enlarger on the short side,and the trays on the longer side (left of the enlarger). I used a large deep tray for the last washing step (water) on the floor, to keep the prints in after fixing them.

For convenience I used a high chair that rotates, so after printing, I just turn my body and I can develop the paper....etc. very easy! I find it even more useful to have a small darkroom and using this rotatable chair as I don't need to walk around which can be very tiring!

Not sure if this is helpful to you, I am thinking how you are going to place the enlarger in the washroom, on top of the washing machine is not possible. Maybe make a table (for the trays) that goes on top of the washing machine and that can be folded away upwards when you want to use the washing machine.......the table for your enlarger can be placed permanently next to the machine ....

I am in HK too, in Tuen Mun.

Hong Sien

Really!?
I live in Hong Kong but in North Point, Hon Kong Island.

From your post, it seems that your darkroom is too small. But most of the empty space inside your darkroom can be uesd. However, I can't. Because most of the places are already used ny the washing machine and since I can't place a safe light or enlarger, I decided to dive up printing.

What about processing the films? I think I can do that. Here are some equipment that I can find in my home:
1.) A tank for developing the fim
2.) stop watch

Also there are some old measuring cylinders and bottles in my home. However, I want to replace them. Can anyone give me some ideas? And tell me what I still need?

 

[kex]

u need a measuring cylinder,thermometer,stopwatch,dark bag(for loading the film into the reel) and of coz,chemicals !

 

[user111]

simple

switch off all the lights :bsmilie:

 

[maxby]

I have a very small room to work with too. My darkroom equipment setup has a foot print of about 2ft x 5ft. I only print at night to minimise the light leaks. Here are some pics. of my darkroom set up..http://www.jooli.com/dollsville/bw_printing.htm

 

[kl122002]

Thankyou very much for telling me about how to set up a dark room. I can get the the idea of setting up the dark room!

But I don't know how many equipments that I should need and which type of equipments should I use ( eg, cylinder with 'mL' mark or with 'oz' mark? And can anyone tell me which chemicals that I should use? , etc.

 

[Yjx]

You will need to have a place where you can use a tungsten light to see and analyse the prints afer fixing. Do not view prints under flourescent lights.

Sorry, a little OT , juz curious, why flourescent can't be used for viewing after fixing? damage print?

 

[student]

Sorry, a little OT , juz curious, why flourescent can't be used for viewing after fixing? damage print?

It affects your assessment of contrast.

 

[hongsien]

It affects your assessment of contrast.

Alamak! Spent over SGD 30,000 for eye operations to improve my printing, I thought it was my eyes! Now I know, it is the light!........those damned eye doctors, never told me its the lamp! :-(

Hong Sien

 

[hongsien]

Really!?
I live in Hong Kong but in North Point, Hon Kong Island.

From your post, it seems that your darkroom is too small. But most of the empty space inside your darkroom can be uesd. However, I can't. Because most of the places are already used ny the washing machine and since I can't place a safe light or enlarger, I decided to dive up printing.

What about processing the films? I think I can do that. Here are some equipment that I can find in my home:
1.) A tank for developing the fim
2.) stop watch

Also there are some old measuring cylinders and bottles in my home. However, I want to replace them. Can anyone give me some ideas? And tell me what I still need?

Let me know if you can meet up somewhere in the city, TST maybe? Will be busy this week, but next week should be ok I think, unless I get a visitor from Indonesia......Can go to some of the photoshops there as they may have darkroom stuff, I also need to get HC-110, haven't found out yet where it is available.....

HS