Do you have any tips for creating a dark room in my apartment?

Question

I do not currently have access to a dark room like I once did. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on what ideas worked best for them when creating a dark room in their apartment. I have a small bathroom that could possibly work and an even larger walk in closet. Any ideas? Suggestions? Tips? Hints? Necessary items? Unnecessary items? Things that worked for them? Things that absolutely did not work? I am planning on only doing b&w photography. Do you have any suggestions on the most affordable and durable equipment?

Answer 1

I had good luck with my last darkroom just setting it up in the bathroom temporarily as needed. The chances are good there's ONE window to cover up or you could just work at night.

Closets or any other room will work, BUT you have to have plumbing in there. Unless you want to install plumbing, just put a 3/4 length wooden board over your tub and get a temp hose fixture to affix onto your faucet. Make sure you paint the board with a glossy enamel once you attach some molding around the edges to contain any spillage and drill a 1 inch hole at one end of the board.

You could possibly, depending upon what your sink is like, place a board over it to place an enlarger onto also.

Make sure you get fresh air in the room you're working in.

If you can't get a room completely black for film, just get a "changing bag" and use that to load film for processing.

Keep the room as dust free as you can.

Thoroughly fix and wash your processed film and your prints or they will degrade over time.

You will need:

Stainless Steel developing tank/reels
4 plastic trays for prints
1 deep tray for processing film
Enlarger (I recommend Beseler)
Paper easel
Timer
Grain focuser
Dust brush & can of air
Tongs
Graduated cup
Safelight(s)
Someplace clean to hang wet film and prints
Squeegee
Chemistry

Answer 2

You Would Want To Have Your Furniture In The Right Places And In Far Lenght Form Eachother, Certain Ways You Have Your Furniture Make The Rooms Seem Bigger. Also Try And Make The Theme Of The Room With Brighter Colors.

Answer 3

You need water and a place you can afford to be messy (not that you will but accidents happen). A walk in closet may not be the best place.

On the other hand you need to bathe sometimes as well. You have to be able to clear out your equipment when you take a shower or you may get your lenses damp or break stuff.

Make sure you have the most practical solution or your happiness may be short lived as it will be to much trouble to get all the stuff out.

Check the net for equipment. As many photographers switch to (or have switched to) digital, there are many cheap but good sets available.

Answer 4

Do it with the lights out.

Answer 5

make it BAAAARE dark.
e.g build a room with no windows and no doors... around you.
that is all.
g'day mate

Answer 6

paint it black including the windows