Dark room design

[nsurit]

I've been using a community dark room for a year or so and will be building a new home this year in which I plan to have a wet darkroom. Drying racks, mounting press, mat cutters, etc. will be in an adjacent room. Would appreciate ideas and/or resource links for laying it out in an efficient manner. I will be using it for negatives up to 4X5 and I'm thinking prints up to 20X24. Enlarger is a Beseler 45V XL. I'm thinking a room of perhaps 150 square feet or so. Thanks in advance. Bill Barber

 

[blaze-on]

Here's a thread that may be of some help. Lots to read though.
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[David Brown]

I recommend any or all of the following books that you can borrow or otherwise obtain:

"The Darkroom Handbook", Dennis Curtin & Joe DeMaio
"Build Your Own Home Darkroom", Lista Duren & Will McDonald
"Building a Home Darkroom" Kodak Workshop Series

In addition, of course, to the wealth of information and opinions on this site.

And, within reason, it cannot be too big.

 

[Jim Noel]

Use as much space as possible. A 150 sg.ft. darkroom seems huge when you first begin using it, and it is a very ample space. As time progresses the space will fill with "essential" goodies and get smaller and smaller.

 

[Reinhold]

Bill,

150 square feet will do it for the Dark side , but as Jim says, you WILL fill it with "essentials".
For the finishing side, another 150 squares ought to do it. I have 2 finishing areas totaling 400 squares; my whole basement is dedicated to photography (cackle).

Think about where the water and drains will be located. When I set up my darkroom I had no choice; the pre-existing utilities were in the corner of a 12' x 13' basement room which forced my workflow from right to left. Since I'm right handed, it took my getting used to working "backwards" (for me).

For the sinks & wet counters, take a look at this plywood + marine resin design. http://www.classicbwphoto.com/Darkroom.html
I have over 15 linear feet of 26 inch wide wet counter space, and can lay out 7 or 8 20x24 trays. (my Big Print washer is on casters, stored under a sink, and rolled out when needed)

Have fun.

Reinhold

www.classicbwphoto.com

 

[raucousimages]

#1 Go as big as you can.

#2 Do a mock-up of the darkroom (sheets for walls, boxes for sink and counters etc.)set up the enlarger if you can and role play developing and printing processes. This will give you an idea if the size and layout are ok.

#3 Run comercial grade wireing in conduit on the outside of the walls. This will let you change things later without cutting into the walls.

#4 Place one light switch by the door and another by the sink (unless sink is by the door) with a light over the sink to view test prints. Running from the sink to the light over and over gets old fast.

#5 Good ventelation.

#6 Use an exterior prehung door instead of an interior door. It will be more light and air (dust) tight than an interior door. Mount it so it opens out. They run about $120.00 from home depot but find one with a dent and have a manager give you a good discount to take it off his hands. Damaged doors are hard to sell.

#7 Good stereo. Fiber prints dry better to jazz. I have no proof of this but that's my story.

#8 When you have the mock-up done invite other local photographers to see it and give you their opinion. It is easyier to change tape and cardboard than stud and drywall. When we did this in my last darkroom we changed the door, location of the enlarger, height of the sink, several outlets and several other small things.

#9 Visit as many darkrooms as you can. Ask amatures, pro photographers and labs if you can see their darkrooms. You might even pickup some gear.

Good luck