Darkroom with a view

Ron789

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 17, 2014
Messages
362
Location
Haarlem, The
Format
Multi Format
What a great experience, being able to do (B&W) darkroom printing while watching the view in front of my house during daytime, people passing by, birds in the canal and field, etc.. I did put a black curtain next to the enlarger today since I found that with bright sunshine outside, there was (minimal) fogging after exposing my RC paper during 5 minutes to this light.



 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
53,194
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format
This will be of interest to teachers who are required to be able to supervise students doing darkroom work.
 

Dusty Negative

Subscriber
Joined
Mar 25, 2019
Messages
588
Location
Virginia
Format
Medium Format
Awesome! What kind of coating is that, and where did you get it? I have a small window that this would be perfect for!!
 

pentaxuser

Member
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
20,006
Location
Daventry, No
Format
35mm
I may have said this before but Les McLean told the story of a photographic shop he used to visit just over the Scottish border in Kelso, I think, who printed in a basement with a red window so he could see if any customers were about to enter his shop. Neat

pentaxuser
 

Jerevan

Member
Joined
Nov 19, 2004
Messages
2,258
Location
Germany/Sweden
Format
Large Format
Great - where did you get this? I've been looking all over (in Europe at least) for something similar.
 
OP
OP

Ron789

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 17, 2014
Messages
362
Location
Haarlem, The
Format
Multi Format
Hi Patrick, thanks for pointing at Ulano Rubylith! I see they have distributors spread over the world, though not in my country. This may be very helpful for others on this forum. The price is similar to what I paid. Who knows, maybe it is actually the same stuff.
I have already applied 2 layers, for the reason you mention. But still, a 50x120cm window at 70cm distance from my enlargers baseboard with bright sunlight outside was a bit too much. On a cloudy day it would be no problem but on a very sunny day it's better to shield off direct light from the window to the enlarger at such a short distance.
 

Old_Dick

Member
Joined
Apr 23, 2014
Messages
396
Location
03082
Format
Multi Format
I remember reading decades ago about Eugene Smith using Rubylith in front of his B&W television.
 

pentaxuser

Member
Joined
May 9, 2005
Messages
20,006
Location
Daventry, No
Format
35mm
Old_Dick said:
I remember reading decades ago about Eugene Smith using Rubylith in front of his B&W television.
Click to expand...
I assume the purpose of this was to allow him to watch TV in his darkroom without harm coming to his printing paper?

Thanks

pentaxuser
 

barzune

Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2010
Messages
281
Location
Ontario
Format
Multi Format
As a point of curiosity, for practical purposes: how durable is Rubylith for direct sunlight exposure?

My darkroom is a West-facing basement multi-purpose hobby room, with a single window that I've been covering with a blanket for daytime photo use, and uncovering for general use.
The window gets some early-day shading from a big Maple tree during Summer, but otherwise gets direct sunlight all afternoon, year round.

Would rubylith stand up to daily full sun exposure, or would it fade, crack, fail over time?
 

Pieter12

Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2017
Messages
7,639
Location
Magrathean's computer
Format
Super8
Rubylith is graphic arts masking film, a gel layer of sorts on mylar backing. It is made so the soft gel layer can be cut with an Xacto type knife and parts of the gel layer peeled away for masking. My experience is that is does not age well exposed to heat, the gel drying out and separating from the backing. I also don't think a large, bright light source such a window getting direct sunlight would be very safe with even 2 layers of Rubylith.
 

Oxleyroad

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Messages
1,273
Location
Back in Oz, South Oz
Format
Multi Format
I am envious. I would not have even thought of this as an option.
 

DMJ

Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2020
Messages
268
Location
Los Angeles
Format
Multi Format
Can anyone recommend a UV blocking film ? There are many options out there but lots of mix reviews. Some claim to filter 99% of the UV.
I'm building a darkroom for alternative processes and want to be able to work looking a the trees and birds in my backyard while keeping good amount of light inside. I have blackout roller shades for silver gelatin traditional enlarger work.
 

mshchem

Subscriber
Joined
Nov 26, 2007
Messages
14,754
Location
Iowa City, Iowa USA
Format
Medium Format
Before I moved into the city, I lived in a development in a rural area. There were Sodium vapor street lights. After putting up blinds, I found when printing black and white, the street light didn't bother the paper.
I've noticed almost every street light here in town, has been converted to LED.
Today my darkroom is windowless.
 

Patrick Robert James

Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2012
Messages
3,362
Format
35mm RF

You should be able to get that at any Home Depot and apply it right to the window glass. For your purposes I'd get one that also cuts the light down.

The Rubylith cuts UV too I believe. You should check that though.
 

DMJ

Member
Joined
Nov 20, 2020
Messages
268
Location
Los Angeles
Format
Multi Format
Patrick Robert James said:
You should be able to get that at any Home Depot and apply it right to the window glass. For your purposes I'd get one that also cuts the light down.

The Rubylith cuts UV too I believe. You should check that though.
Click to expand...

Yes, that is the option highlighted in this thread for silver gelatin work but I don't want red light coming through my window, it'll look like an underground club .
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…