Darkroom ceiling lights - need suggestions!

jay moussy · Apr 23, 2021

My current rudimentary darkroom has a round glass ceiling light, and it is not conducive to comfortable work - I do my photo equipment repair there as well.

New a pair of LED strips seem to be the choice, but what type?
The room is about 12 ft square.

voceumana · Apr 23, 2021

The last darkroom I built was about 9 by 14 feet. I placed track lighting strips high on the wall (about 18 inches below the ceiling) with the reflectors pointing to the ceiling--I did strips along the 2 long walls. The overall effect was very bright but diffuse lighting. I was very happy with the results. I used very cheap track lights from Home Depot, but I think it might be hard to find something inexpensive these days.

jeffreyg · Apr 23, 2021

For my overheads I have fluorescent fixtures with 5500K bulbs. For printing I have two safelights. I also have a conventional type LED over the sink. Different switches for each. One safelight is plugged into the enlarger timer.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

http://www.sculptureandphotography.com/

jay moussy · Apr 23, 2021

Incidentally, I will also install ceiling tiles into the existing grid - brought up the subject a year ago, and someone suggested running red LED rope lights as safelights! How does one qualify the "red" part as safe?

MattKing · Apr 23, 2021

jay moussy said:
Incidentally, I will also install ceiling tiles into the existing grid - brought up the subject a year ago, and someone suggested running red LED rope lights as safelights! How does one qualify the "red" part as safe?

Trial and error - although all three that I have tested (full Kodak Safelight test) passed with flying colours (pun intended). The ones I've tested were all marketed as being Christmas themed, so availability of those particular ones may be seasonal.

mshchem · Apr 23, 2021

I have 4 4 foot double tube standard florescent fixtures. 4 Thomas safelights. The safelights have the DUC filter in the outer vanes. I just open about an inch for black and white. I got all the safelights used, right place at right time.
All the LEDs available a couple bucks will buy a "safe" light.

Andrew O'Neill · Apr 23, 2021

I have no ceiling lights. Instead, I have lamps on reticulated arms, that I can place anywhere I want. A couple are for viewing prints. Another one has a bug light for alt printing.

MattKing · Apr 23, 2021

With respect to general illumination, if you have a choice between florescent and either LED or incandescent, the "afterglow" from florescent makes them slightly less desirable.
Recently we have installed a number of these LED ceiling fixtures in a kitchen and a den. They were very reasonably priced at Costco. They emit a portion of their light upwards toward the ceiling and as a result provide amazingly nice, even and diffused light. They are so bright, a dimmer is advisable.
https://www.artika.ca/en/products/i...-lights/sunraker-integrated-led-ceiling-light

Make sure that you place the switch for room light carefully. I prefer a pull cord from the ceiling.

Doremus Scudder · Apr 23, 2021

voceumana said:
The last darkroom I built was about 9 by 14 feet. I placed track lighting strips high on the wall (about 18 inches below the ceiling) with the reflectors pointing to the ceiling--I did strips along the 2 long walls. The overall effect was very bright but diffuse lighting. I was very happy with the results. I used very cheap track lights from Home Depot, but I think it might be hard to find something inexpensive these days.

I second the track-lighting suggestion. Track lighting is the most flexible. You can use various kinds of bulbs and diffusion, point them wherever you need, etc., etc.,

I have three separate tracks on different switches and anywhere from three to five fixtures in each track. One in the middle for general lighting with bulbs pointed up and at areas that need good lighting when I'm working with the lights on, one track over the 10' darkroom sink with bulbs for viewing prints in the fixer and toning trays and one track just for my viewing wall, which is a large magnetic white board where I hang prints to evaluate them. For this latter I have a mix of regular halogen (3400k) and daylight (~500K) bulbs that I think reproduces average gallery lighting most accurately.

Best,

Doremus

ic-racer · Apr 23, 2021

I put track lighting in my darkroom and workshop.

voceumana · Apr 23, 2021

I used an outdoor type switch for the white lights so that it was a completely different style of switch--there would be no mistaking it for the safelight switch. See: https://greenfieldkdl1pweath8ty0.wordpress.com/

jay moussy · Apr 23, 2021

Great suggestions, many ways to go about it.

Well, I just finished replacing the poorly wired, lousy round ceiling light mount with a GFI outlet I had kicking around, so I can safely and flexibly use a number of plug-in styles now.
I have two freebie old-school fluorescent tube units I could use right away, and can add a small LED over sink/dev. area.
Do LEDs offer a color temperature, in strip or tube form, or does it matter for B&W?

ic-racer · Apr 23, 2021

I think color temperature is very important in B&W. Especially if you use different warm and cold papers and tone. The lights over my sink were always tungsten halogen, to match gallery light. But most gallery lighting is now LED, so I have switched over.

Doremus Scudder · Apr 25, 2021

ic-racer said:
I think color temperature is very important in B&W. Especially if you use different warm and cold papers and tone. The lights over my sink were always tungsten halogen, to match gallery light. But most gallery lighting is now LED, so I have switched over.

Which LED light do you use? I still have my mix of halogen and daylight bulbs for evaluating prints, but if galleries are going to LED...

wiltw · Apr 25, 2021

There are 4' long replacements for 4' fluorescent fixtures, using LED sources, and these come with plug in cords. I put two of these in our bathroom as replacements for two failed fluorescent fixtures (bad balasts) before we ultimately removed the drop ceiling and replaced the fluorescent fixtures with recessed LED can lights. They do come in choice of color temperature, and I chose 4000K LED 4' fixtures. (Ultimately, also chose selectable LED can lights and set them to 4000K.)
The 4' LED fixtures have so impressed me, that I kept them so they could be put into use to replace 4' fluorescent fixtures elsewhere, like in the garage and in our attic storage area.

This is what I bought from Amazon for 6 fixtures, $47

"(Pack of 6) Barrina LED T5 Integrated Single Fixture, 4FT, 2200lm, 4000K (Daylight Glow), 20W, Utility Shop Light, Ceiling and Under Cabinet Light, Corded Electric with Built-in ON/Off Switch "

jay moussy · Apr 25, 2021

wiltw said:
There are 4' long replacements for 4' fluorescent fixtures, using LED sources, and these come with plug in cords. I put two of these in our bathroom as replacements for two failed fluorescent fixtures (bad balasts) before we ultimately removed the drop ceiling and replaced the fluorescent fixtures with recessed LED can lights. They do come in choice of color temperature, and I chose 4000K LED 4' fixtures. (Ultimately, also chose selectable LED can lights and set them to 4000K.)
The 4' LED fixtures have so impressed me, that I kept them so they could be put into use to replace 4' fluorescent fixtures elsewhere, like in the garage and in our attic storage area.

Are these the magnetic-mount type as sold by the SuperbrightLEDS folks?
I was just browsing these yesterday, considering retrofitting fluorescent shop lights.

wiltw · Apr 25, 2021

jay moussy said:
Are these the magnetic-mount type as sold by the SuperbrightLEDS folks?
I was just browsing these yesterday, considering retrofitting fluorescent shop lights.

I had just edited my prior post, giving the description from Amazon
These come with metal clips that are screwed into ceiling/2x4 and the fixture very easily lock into the clips.

web page link Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Barrina-Integrated-Fixture-Daylight-Electric/dp/B01MUKSZE3/ref=sr_1_24?dchild=1&keywords=4'+led+4000K+light+fixture&qid=1619397252&sr=8-24

ParkerSmithPhoto · Apr 25, 2021

ic-racer said:
I put track lighting in my darkroom and workshop.

I have a similar setup with open floor joists above with track lighting. Works great, really easy if you want to extend or reconfigure the lighting.

Also have a separate switch for a print inspection spot light above the sink, and a dedicated switch for the Thomas Duplex safelight.

mgb74 · Apr 26, 2021

You might want to consider a couple of strip type LED lights for "white" light. Assuming the color rendition quality of the light isn't that critical. The can be found dirt cheap at local stores via the MassSave energy program.

CMoore · Apr 30, 2021

Man...............it sounds like some have A LOT of safe light.
My old darkroom was 12 x 15 feet.
I lit it with just two of those little (7 watts i think) LED Bulbs that screw into a standard light fixture.
I had them in those silver dished portable fixtures.....like in the photo below.
They gave off so much light that i had the fixture pointed parallel...straight across...the ceiling, not pointed down at all. Of course my ceiling was flat white and the walls were a low-sheen light green.

Darkroom ceiling lights - need suggestions!

jay moussy

voceumana

jeffreyg

jay moussy

MattKing

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mshchem

Andrew O'Neill

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Doremus Scudder

ic-racer

voceumana

jay moussy

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wiltw

jay moussy

wiltw

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CMoore

Darkroom ceiling lights - need suggestions!

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