Bathroom and other Temporary/Makeshift Darkrooms
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Looks very awkward to keep the 'dry side' and the wet side' separated locutus, especially when you have a 'full load' on 
Nice job fitting it all in the 1m2.
I have been through a few iterations in the garage (it is not my garage) but basically ended up building a wooden frame in there covered in light tight curtains and corflute which worked well for a year. Unfortunately 310mm of rain in 48 hours here in Sydney = total flood. I managed to save my enlarger and equipment but everything else is destroyed, the curtains will go mouldy and I’ll need to pull it all down.
I think I’ll have to go back to the laundry, I can't hold an umbrella and develop at the same time. I am lucky that the laundry is maybe 5m x 3m with a sink, so it is a definite possible, just awkward with the laundry aspect of things.
Attached is a picture from when I built the now destroyed 'indoor shed' darkroom. RIP.
Nice job fitting it all in the 1m2.
I have been through a few iterations in the garage (it is not my garage) but basically ended up building a wooden frame in there covered in light tight curtains and corflute which worked well for a year. Unfortunately 310mm of rain in 48 hours here in Sydney = total flood. I managed to save my enlarger and equipment but everything else is destroyed, the curtains will go mouldy and I’ll need to pull it all down.
I think I’ll have to go back to the laundry, I can't hold an umbrella and develop at the same time. I am lucky that the laundry is maybe 5m x 3m with a sink, so it is a definite possible, just awkward with the laundry aspect of things.
Attached is a picture from when I built the now destroyed 'indoor shed' darkroom. RIP.
I have two homes, one in Michigan where I have a VG darkroom with a VG Beseler 4 X 5 enlarger with cold light and in my smaller Florida winter home I have a temporary darkroom setup in a small bathroom. In Florida, I settled on an Omega B22 because of its size, its simplicity, and user friendly qualities. I print 35mm and 6 X 6 negs. The bathroom while having no windows does require a lot of black cloth around the door frame as the rest of the house can be very bright.
The wet side is set up is in the bathtub with two TV stands (no stooping) covered with a yoga mat that can accommodate three 8 x 10 trays easily. I confine my prints to be no higher than 8 X 10 size but I suppose with some difficulty I could do 11 X 14. The yoga mat is a godsend as it grips the trays with no slippage and it can be cleaned easily.
All electrical comes from a single outlet that connects the enlarger, a rheostat, two timers (Unicolor with foot switch and a Gralab for print development), a fan, two small safe lights, and a radio…most connected with an extension cord. The print washer is simply a Kodak syphon with an 11 X 14 tray next to the basin. The hose is connected to the shower head. I use Ilford RC Multi-grade exclusively in Florida for time and convenience.
The enlarger sits on a fairly inexpensive Walmart tool cart with three drawers that can accommodate almost all of the hardware and trays. The cart can easily be stored in in a medium sized closet. Overall it only takes 20 minutes to set up and take down. The toilet BTW is fully functional so there is little inconvenience.
The wet side is set up is in the bathtub with two TV stands (no stooping) covered with a yoga mat that can accommodate three 8 x 10 trays easily. I confine my prints to be no higher than 8 X 10 size but I suppose with some difficulty I could do 11 X 14. The yoga mat is a godsend as it grips the trays with no slippage and it can be cleaned easily.
All electrical comes from a single outlet that connects the enlarger, a rheostat, two timers (Unicolor with foot switch and a Gralab for print development), a fan, two small safe lights, and a radio…most connected with an extension cord. The print washer is simply a Kodak syphon with an 11 X 14 tray next to the basin. The hose is connected to the shower head. I use Ilford RC Multi-grade exclusively in Florida for time and convenience.
The enlarger sits on a fairly inexpensive Walmart tool cart with three drawers that can accommodate almost all of the hardware and trays. The cart can easily be stored in in a medium sized closet. Overall it only takes 20 minutes to set up and take down. The toilet BTW is fully functional so there is little inconvenience.
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We moved to the country after years having a darkroom in the city, so I just wait until it's dark outside and then "the barn" is entirely pitch black. The main issue is the septic tank, which does not like chemicals at all. Also the water only comes thru a garden hose. So I have a small tank that holds 5 gallons of water, heated by adding hot water from a microwave or a propane burner, or cooled by ice or cold water out of a small refrigerator. That goes into the tank and into the water jacket for film processing. Everything is brought to the same temp to keep the grain to a minimum. 5 Gallons of wash water easily does two rolls of 120 film. The water, after use, goes into this 30 gallon see thru tank under the darkroom sink actually made as a portable holding tank for an RV. It has wheels and can be rolled out to a metal water tank, dumped into it, and covered with a screen so the deer don't drink it. They get fresh water. The processing water just evaporates in the sunlight. Two enlargers sit on these two really stable portable shop tables which were purchased at the usual hardware box store(they were on sale). A door size table covered with formica is between the enlargers and the darkroom sink to hold trays for when the printing part gets going again. Right now it works for medium format film processing, then scanning. Then there's a cabinet for storage and a projector table for paper stock. The whole thing is kind of open air into the studio, which does have plenty of electricity and AC, and the floor is level concrete. Everything just goes along one wall with a little space between wet and dry areas. It is in the setting up process for the 6x7 negatives to be enlarged to 16x20, or, so far, to be scanned and printed to 13x19. I thought this might be of some use to photographers who may have only access to septic tanks.
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My darkroom is in a closet in the attic. Was fine in the winter. Now in the summer I can't spend more than 15 min in there. It's unbearable.
However I assume the health benefits of hanging out in a sauna might be worth it.
However I assume the health benefits of hanging out in a sauna might be worth it.
Back when I was single and apartment living, I used blackout cloth to cover the window in the 2nd bedroom, and to also cover light leaks at the door. It served as my enlarger location, and I would load exposed prints into Jobo light tight drums for processing.
Then I would take the drum(s) from the bedroom to the bathroom, to the Jobo set up on a table I had made to hold the Jobo over the bathtub, and do my processing there. The bathroom fan handled any chemical fumes.
It only took about 5 minutes to black out the window or revert it back to normal. Light tight, it allowed printing even mid-day.
Then I would take the drum(s) from the bedroom to the bathroom, to the Jobo set up on a table I had made to hold the Jobo over the bathtub, and do my processing there. The bathroom fan handled any chemical fumes.
It only took about 5 minutes to black out the window or revert it back to normal. Light tight, it allowed printing even mid-day.
Dan0001 Does the mirror reflection cause any effect when you're.printing?
bathroom darkrooms is how most of us started. They work well and effectively and it is amazing what one can do on a few square feet if you have to. I always thought of designing a kind of darkroom desk where enlarger, storage and a wet area re integrated.
- in deed: Have you seen Joseph Sudek's darkroom in his garden house in Prague: Hardly room for one person to stand, a sink, and a few narrow shelves... And what amazing work came out of this small hole!
That mirror across from the enlarger is just begging to be covered.
Kind of late to the party but here is a post that shows the fun is in the doing.
I inherited this late 1930's or early '40 Kodak auto focusing enlarger from my uncle in the 1970's. I stuck in the attic until 6 or 7 years ago. Then I retired and decided to restore it and a 1909 4x5 field camera.
Cleaning, replacing the bulb with an LED bulb and making a set of bellows from black pasteboard and it was ready to go. Grade #2 or #3 paper combined with an old set of developing trays and I was all set. Now, I needed a dark room.
The only room in the house with no windows was the bathroom. So as shown below, it is now also a part-time darkroom.
The fun of course to to see how one's abilities stacks up against those past generations; for whom this gear was state-of-the-art.
I inherited this late 1930's or early '40 Kodak auto focusing enlarger from my uncle in the 1970's. I stuck in the attic until 6 or 7 years ago. Then I retired and decided to restore it and a 1909 4x5 field camera.
Cleaning, replacing the bulb with an LED bulb and making a set of bellows from black pasteboard and it was ready to go. Grade #2 or #3 paper combined with an old set of developing trays and I was all set. Now, I needed a dark room.
The only room in the house with no windows was the bathroom. So as shown below, it is now also a part-time darkroom.
The fun of course to to see how one's abilities stacks up against those past generations; for whom this gear was state-of-the-art.
MattKing
Moderator
Every darkroom needs wallpaper! 
Every darkroom needs wallpaper!
Not mine. Besides it chemicals splash they wipe off with a damp rag. The same chemicals can stain or bleach wall paper.
I'm impressed by some darkrooms in this thread even tinier than mine
I don't even know if you can call that a darkroom ... I'm renting an appartement without windows shutter, only my bedroom has a very opaque curtain. Even then, it's only dark enough to print at night
I mix chemistries in the bathroom, put the prints in the black tray filled with water, and when i'm done I wash them in the shower. The safe light is a multi-purpose LED (Viltrox RB9) at 100% red, placed on my bed a few meters away from the enlarger, pointing at the ceiling. As you can see, the easel is ridiculously bigger than the enlarger's baseboard.
Can't say I recommend using your bedroom for this like I do ... but it'll have to do for now.
Any updates on the Ilford Portable Darkroom?
I see the drummer's 'throne'. I too have ringing in my ears.
Wish I took a photo of it in but in college, my wife and I had a 1 bedroom in a turn-of-the-century 5 story apartment building in SF near Alamo Square. I set up a darkroom with a Bessler motorized 4x5 enlarger and stacked trays in a closet. It was only big enough for me to sit on a stool at the enlarger then spin 180* and process in the trays. I'm sure i lost a few brain cells in there.
I want to get started on building one in my office space that i rent but won't be able to build walls so will have to rely on sealing the door and window from light. I do not know if i manage to find a paper processor somewhere if it needs running water and drain or can just run from tubs? What should i start with if i want to do RA4 mainly then might do black and white later. I want it to be easy like the labs i go to with Colenta and 2 de vere 504 in each cabin. I only plan on making 10x12 or maybe slightly bigger prints. Max 20" i would say. I literally have no idea where to start and how to make it light safe etc. Would love some advice!
Welcome to Photrio.
I have a wet darkroom and a dry darkroom. The wet darkroom is a bathroom which I use a board to block the window that has blackout cloth to spread out. I also put a board across the two sinks so I can put four trays up. The dry darkroom has the paper cutter, paper safe, boxed of papers, the enlarger and print dryer.
Is that an LED head for the De Verre? Wondering what the 2 panels are to control? One timer one for filters ?
This is an important subject because young people likely feel having a darkroom (DR) is beyond their space footprint or wallets. Not so. I printed this morning before sunrise. While doing so I thought how great my efficient space is. Sure at times it would be nice to have more room but this space is so easy to use. The storage of chems is minimal as I use concentrated fluids like Multigrade developer. Enlarging 35mm to 5x7 RC prints is easy. If I have a great shot I may print it on fiber. I have 8x10 trays for the rare larger print. If I wanted to make an 8x12 on 11 by 14 inch paper I would single tray process. So don’t think you can’t put together a workable gorilla DR.
I’ve worked 15 plus years in this small space. Every aspect has been thought out to keep things simple. Everything is reachable from a seated position. The enlarger does not move. It takes me 15 min to make coffee, set up to print and cleanup. DR work is fun and satisfying. The key is to make the DR easy to use and comfortable to work in.
I’ve worked 15 plus years in this small space. Every aspect has been thought out to keep things simple. Everything is reachable from a seated position. The enlarger does not move. It takes me 15 min to make coffee, set up to print and cleanup. DR work is fun and satisfying. The key is to make the DR easy to use and comfortable to work in.
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Currently I am using the laundry room. The small window has a semi-permanent blackout (ie. I can revert it easily), and the door has an external blackout curtain. I can print most days, but should really handle unexposed film only at night or in a changing bag. The room has a sink, water, and an extract fan, but it does need to be vacuumed before use, and maybe an air cleaner run before film drying. Since laundry is done twice a week, I have to plan a bit. I can just get the 4x5 enlarger in on a cart which also has the kit I don't keep in the room. The Jobo lives there.
It is a bit of a pain, but I see that as motivation to get the proper room set-up. The plans are made, so it is just saving up enough money to do the conversion, and that can be done in stages.
It is a bit of a pain, but I see that as motivation to get the proper room set-up. The plans are made, so it is just saving up enough money to do the conversion, and that can be done in stages.
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