How To Build A Darkroom At Home
Working in the darkroom is a hallmark of being a photographer, as well as a great way to grab a little personal time to really focus on your photography basics. There’s something to be said about a door that literally cannot be opened and the impact of having no interruptions can have on your work. Sadly, we can’t all pop down to the local darkroom any time we want, so a better alternative is to build one right in your own home.
Location, Location, Location
Garages, sheds, basements and extra rooms are all great places to have a darkroom. Just bear in mind that the materials are a bit hazardous and do carry a smell, and you’re going to have a far easier time if the place you choose has access to running water. Additionally, since the room you choose will have to be completely sealed of light, it’s a good idea to choose a room with no windows that you don’t mind removing from normal life – once you make a room a darkroom it’s not going to serve as anything else. For this reason, your best bet is probably a shed with plumbing and electricity, or the basement. You can also set up a darkoom in an unused bathroom however this might be a bit cramped.
The Darkroom Supplies You’ll Need
Most of what you need for your own darkroom is pretty basic and won’t cost you too much. Excluding whatever it takes to lightproof the room you use, you can get by with the following:
- 3 Trays big enough for 8×10 paper
- 3 Sets of tongs
- Chemicals (see below)
- Enlarger and timer (see below)
- Easel
- Darkroom light
The only expensive things you need are the enlarger, which you fortunately only need to purchase once, and the chemicals, which will need to be refreshed now and again. You can buy a photo enlarger for around $200 and a basic timer for about $150 or you can search online for some used equipment.
The chemicals, on the other hand, are a little more complicated. You can get most chemicals in either powder or liquid form. Powders are easier to store but will require mixing and sometimes can become airborne, while liquids are a little easier to deal with but take up more space and are often more expensive.
At a minimum, you’ll need to buy some developer, fixer and some stop bath. It’s a good idea to buy small quantities, or if using a powder only mix small amounts at a time, as the chemicals will go bad over time. You’ll also want to keep the chemicals in the dark in plastic biottles as glass can easily break when you’re working in the dark. A darkroom light will help you see while working with your paper but please know that a darkroom light can still ruin undeveloped film so only develop your film in complete darkness.
The Darkroom Setup
Once you have the chemicals sorted and all of your supplies in order, you’re good to go. The best darkroom setup should have a “dry side” with your enlarger and a work bench and a “wet side” for your chemicals. It’s also a good idea to have a sink at the end of this table for the final rinse – if you have extra cash they make special “always running, always full” sinks that are absolutely stellar for this purpose. You may also want to consider adding a lock to the door to prevent accidental door openings while your working. However if you lock the door, just make sure that you can easily open it from inside in case of an emergency.
Once you have all of the supplies you need, you can really set up your darkroom in any place that’s protected from light. Just find a setup that works for you and before long, you’ll be developing and printing your images and will be proud to tell your friends you did it all from the comfort of your own darkroom!And don’t forget to give some of your newly made prints to your friends as they make great framed gifts.
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Filed under Amateur Photographer, Photography by JamesJ
