If I were to build a small darkroom?

awty · Mar 2, 2017

Hi all
In the process of building a small darkroom in the back corner of my garage (took 3 days to clear about 20 years of accumulated rubbish). I haven't started construction yet but my basic out line will be 1700mm wide and about 1500mm deep. Small door in the middle one end and a purpose built trough with drainage and running water one side and bench space for a enlarger and stuff on the other. I will have storage room out if needed for plenty of elbow space. I am depending on time of day around 186cm tall (6'1 and a bit in grandad measurements) medium build, cramped space does not bother me (im a plumber, am use to it). I have no darkroom experience in the last 25 years. Would be making prints of up to around 500mm/20", also maybe Lith and wet plate and other stuff
So what I want to know is that going to be adequate?
Could make it longer if necessary, but not wider.
How high, wide and deep should I make the trough?
How high for the bench?
How should I ventilate?
Anything else I should consider before I start?
Thanks

howardpan · Mar 2, 2017

Hi,

I built my own darkroom last year by converting a room in the garage. After using the darkroom for over a year, here are some of my learnings:

(1) You said you want to print up to 20" (I presume this means your largest print will be on 16"x20" paper). I use 5 trays in my process - one for developer; one for stop bath; two for fixer; and one for the holding bath. You will need some room to tilt the trays, so I think this will determine the size of your trough. My trough was not long enough so I went to a double-decker style. I have two platforms built from plexi glass with wheels that rest on the side of the trough. A vertical piece sitting next to the wheel serves as a "guide rail". This way I can accommodate 2 on top and 3 trays on the bottom.

(2) You will want adequate ventilation. Based on my online research, this will be approximately 10x the volume of your darkroom/hr. You should make sure the environment is comfortable (HVAC). You probably also want some means to filter the incoming air. I have noticed that there is always soot on the floor in my darkroom. This is a 6 car garage so there isn't a lot of traffic, yet I find soot on the floor. If soot is on the floor, it is probably elsewhere....

(3) You will want hot and cold water. I use this mostly for my film development. But it is also useful if you decide to mix solutions from powder chemicals.

(4) You may want access to distilled water or filtered water. I use this also for my film development and for the final rinse.

(5) You will need to make sure your enlarger platform does not vibrate. You will need access to some empty desk space where you keep your dodge and burn tools, your negatives, and your paper.

(6) You will want both a dry and wet side of the darkroom. The dry side includes your enlarger and paper cutter. The wet side is for mixing chemicals and pouring solutions. I mix some chemicals from scratch. It's a lot of fun to experiment. You will need a scale. You will also need a place for grinding chemicals into powders.

(7) You will need a safe place to store your chemicals (e.g. earthquake).

There are a lot of useful references online. Otherwise, the Darkroom Cookbook also provides some useful information.

I hope this helped.

http://masteringphoto.com/darkroom-design-creating-a-practical-and-creative-environment/

Pentode · Mar 2, 2017

Adequate is all relative. If you can print in that space, it's adequate.

It will certainly be cramped, but you say that doesn't bother you.

Try to get a trough sink big enough to set out four of the biggest trays you're likely to use and still have a little room around them for agitation and so chemicals don't splash and cross-contaminate each other.

Sink and counter height for someone your size should be pretty high. I'm 6'-0" and build work benches to 36". That's probably around where you'd want the bottom of your trough to be and the sides would be about 6" high. You'd probably want your easel at about the same height as the bottom of the trough. You're a tall guy and there's no sense in making your back hurt.

Plan storage for easels, contact frames, paper safes, etc... under the enlarger bench.

Plan storage for trays, liquid chemicals and print drying screens under the trough. Store tanks and reels above the trough.

A vent fan that draws fresh, filtered air across the trough and out above it will help keep fumes out of your nose.

What you're planning could certainly be adequate. Plenty of people find ways to use makeshift darkrooms in closets, tents, attics... whatever gets the job done!

I'm in the midst of converting a basement bathroom even smaller than the space you're describing. It's going to be extremely cramped for me to work in there, but it's going to be adequate because it has no choice: it's the space I have available to work with.

APUGuser19 is absolutely right, though; build the niceties as you need them. Get printing as soon as you can.

Jim Jones · Mar 2, 2017

1.5x1.7m sounds small for 16x20 prints, although I made a few prints that size in my last darkroom by stacking the first three trays. That darkroom was about 2.4m long, 2m wide at one end and 1.2m wide at the other. It didn't have quite all of the luxuries that Howard recommends. Some of the six previous darkrooms I improvised were even smaller. Do provide enough electrical outlets, preferably protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter. This may be required by your local electrical code. Some of the darkrooms had no running water. A generous supply of water stored in the darkroom sufficed when the ambient temperature could be maintained between 65 and 75 degrees F.

MattKing · Mar 2, 2017

This Kodak publication, archived on Tim Gray's valuable 125px.com site, may be helpful: http://125px.com/docs/techpubs/kodak/ak3.pdf

bdial · Mar 2, 2017

I agree with Jim that 16x20 prints would be challenging. My dark room is about 1700 x 2500 mm, 12x16 prints are the largest I've seriously attempted. I have a Nova processor which makes all the difference in a small space. But getting one to Oz from the UK would be pretty dear, and I'd guess the prospects of finding one there would be slim.
Aside from print size limitations, i like working in the small space though.

awty · Mar 2, 2017

Thanks for the replies.
Nothing grandiose, only basic construction, but I would rather custom build something that is workable and I wont have to tare down cause I didn't account for something.
20" is only a guesstimate, not really sure but better to over capitalise than under.
Basically the door will be up one end and there will be dry bench space on the left and wet area on the right.
It will have hot and cold water and maybe a thermostatic mixer.....cause I can.
Will look at ways of stacking trays or look at making the trough longer.
Thanks for the suggestions ,much appreciated.

Johnkpap · Mar 2, 2017

Hi Paul

Good to here you are Building a darkroom

I have almost finished building mine inside a corner of my shed, mine is approx 3 meters by 2 meters and 2.8 meters high,
I have a very nice big sink which is 2.6 meters by 1 meter ....it takes up 1/3 of my darkroom. I have 2 durst enlargers :- a Ac800 and a l1200 4x5 enlarger

Once all my equipment is in there is not a lot of room left for me.

I found the best way to design my darkroom was to lay out your equipment on your empty floor space, eg sink, bench for enlarger and cupboards..... get a feel of how thing fit together you will soon see if you have enough room.

For ventilator I am using a extraction fan above my sink and two light proof vents on the other side. the sink is 39 inches high (elbow height) and the enlarger bench is the same, also you can never have too much storage.

Regards

Johnkpap

M Carter · Mar 2, 2017

You mentioned lith printing - which is really only reasonable with a tray heater - so you will definitely want ventilation, and with heated lith developer, think about something like dryer hose you could velcro to your exhaust vent and hang right down near the tray, but remove it for general use.

Lith is developed by inspection, so in addition to a small flashlight with a red lens that won't fog your paper, you need your developing tray to be where you can comfortably view it - so some of the stacked tray solutions might be a problem. You'll spend a lot of hours staring at that tray!

And - lith gets much easier to dial in with 2-bath - even a tray of lith developer and a tray of warm water, or very weak lith dev or water and old brown. And both trays need to be "inspectable" in that case. And - you need to be able to immediately throw the print in the stop - not even drain it off, just flip it in. Even a few seconds can be the difference between great and ruined. For me, to do 11x14 and 16x20 lith prints, I need a fairly wide counter. Lith can be a little nerve wracking, getting it perfect and then stopped - it really accelerates towards the end of the process.

Arklatexian · Mar 2, 2017

awty said:
Thanks for the replies.
Nothing grandiose, only basic construction, but I would rather custom build something that is workable and I wont have to tare down cause I didn't account for something.
20" is only a guesstimate, not really sure but better to over capitalise than under.
Basically the door will be up one end and there will be dry bench space on the left and wet area on the right.
It will have hot and cold water and maybe a thermostatic mixer.....cause I can.
Will look at ways of stacking trays or look at making the trough longer.
Thanks for the suggestions ,much appreciated.

While stacking trays works, making the trough/sink longer, if you can, will be more workable and useful in other ways. Sounds as if you are building a workable habitat. By the way, don't build your entrance door too small. You will regret it when trying to move equipment in and out of your darkroom. I built an exit door as an emergency exit that is big enough for all the equipment that is in mine. I was able to build the sink outdoors and bring it into the darkroom through that door. Good luck........Regards!

awty · Mar 3, 2017

Johnkpap said:
Hi Paul

Good to here you are Building a darkroom

I have almost finished building mine inside a corner of my shed, mine is approx 3 meters by 2 meters and 2.8 meters high,
I have a very nice big sink which is 2.6 meters by 1 meter ....it takes up 1/3 of my darkroom. I have 2 durst enlargers :- a Ac800 and a l1200 4x5 enlarger

Once all my equipment is in there is not a lot of room left for me.

I found the best way to design my darkroom was to lay out your equipment on your empty floor space, eg sink, bench for enlarger and cupboards..... get a feel of how thing fit together you will soon see if you have enough room.

For ventilator I am using a extraction fan above my sink and two light proof vents on the other side. the sink is 39 inches high (elbow height) and the enlarger bench is the same, also you can never have too much storage.

Regards

Johnkpap

Sounds like there is plenty of room John. I'll just come over to your shed, that will be way easier than building my own.

awty · Mar 3, 2017

M Carter said:
You mentioned lith printing - which is really only reasonable with a tray heater - so you will definitely want ventilation, and with heated lith developer, think about something like dryer hose you could velcro to your exhaust vent and hang right down near the tray, but remove it for general use.

Lith is developed by inspection, so in addition to a small flashlight with a red lens that won't fog your paper, you need your developing tray to be where you can comfortably view it - so some of the stacked tray solutions might be a problem. You'll spend a lot of hours staring at that tray!

And - lith gets much easier to dial in with 2-bath - even a tray of lith developer and a tray of warm water, or very weak lith dev or water and old brown. And both trays need to be "inspectable" in that case. And - you need to be able to immediately throw the print in the stop - not even drain it off, just flip it in. Even a few seconds can be the difference between great and ruined. For me, to do 11x14 and 16x20 lith prints, I need a fairly wide counter. Lith can be a little nerve wracking, getting it perfect and then stopped - it really accelerates towards the end of the process.

Thanks thats very good advise, not sure of all the different types of printing, but if I have provision for such stuff, then I can explore it better. I do much better at hands on learning than from books and dont mind making mistakes (thats if the neighbours can put up with my swearing). If I have any ability in making a picture it will be more in the experimental/pictorial/ old fashioned creative type stuff........and I wont know if I dont try.

Hilo · Mar 3, 2017

Make it longer !

Mine is 1,78 X 5,50m and I have placed the enlarger table at one short end, covering the complete width. A pvc sink of 2,20m along one long wall, that takes three 50X60cm trays or four 40X50cm trays. Along the other long wall I have placed many boxes temporarily. So my effective workspace is only 1,48m wide and it is okay . . .

You could do less long, as I have placed a second enlarger table of about 1,20 on the long side where are sink and a meter wide open cupboard. However, if you have the space . . . My door is on the other short side . . .

awty · Mar 3, 2017

oldtimermetoo said:
While stacking trays works, making the trough/sink longer, if you can, will be more workable and useful in other ways. Sounds as if you are building a workable habitat. By the way, don't build your entrance door too small. You will regret it when trying to move equipment in and out of your darkroom. I built an exit door as an emergency exit that is big enough for all the equipment that is in mine. I was able to build the sink outdoors and bring it into the darkroom through that door. Good luck........Regards!

Thanks, great advise as well.
Will rethink my design. I want to keep it relatively simple and if I need to expand later I will and by then I will have a better understanding of what I need.

M Carter · Mar 3, 2017

awty said:
Thanks thats very good advise, not sure of all the different types of printing, but if I have provision for such stuff, then I can explore it better. I do much better at hands on learning than from books and dont mind making mistakes (thats if the neighbours can put up with my swearing). If I have any ability in making a picture it will be more in the experimental/pictorial/ old fashioned creative type stuff........and I wont know if I dont try.

One of the best books I've ever seen on darkroom printing is Tim Rudman's "Master Printing Course" - out of print but still out there used very cheap (his toning book goes for hundreds now). Really fantastic resource, even the more advanced stuff is clearly explained. Goes from the basics to some crazy stuff, and he shows original neg and final result - many recipes for bleaches and toners. It's my #1 pick for printing.

As for lith - there are almost no papers manufactured today that lith well, so hunting down expired paper on eBay can become quite an obsession.

pentaxuser · Mar 3, 2017

It depends on what you want to spend and on how much they cost in Oz but I'd seriously consider a Nova 12x16 processor in such a small space.

pentaxuser

John Koehrer · Mar 3, 2017

My question is where's the enlarger in relation to the trays? I'd like to have some separation(50cm+) between them.
I'd add about another meter just to be on the safe side too.
I really like the idea in post #8 to set your stuff up & start with that.
I've used stacked trays up to 11X14 and it was really good for me. I used a tray rack
that was commercially available once upon a time. It was plastic coated wire frame and held three trays.
I don't know how a wooden rack would work out.
You may find pictures of the rack online. It was a "Richards Tray Rack" They're kind of like chicken lips
& hard to find.

Neil Poulsen · Mar 3, 2017

My darkroom is the same width, but a little longer (8ft) than the dimensions that you've discussed. I can do all kinds of different activities in my darkroom.

So, here's a layout that could work. (See photo.)

My Versalab 11x14 print washer is just beyond the sink on the left side. On the right, my enlarger is mounted on one of my particle board masterpieces. (Not all particle board, though.) The stand includes a 1 ft section that can be removed to lower the table for greater enlargements. It doesn't hurt, that I have a 9 ft ceiling.

I recommend the Delta 1, "The Sink" seen on the left. Works great. Mine is 4ft; but, it also comes in a 6ft version, which would be better for your purposes. I plan to replace mine with the longer version. But the dimensions of my darkroom will require that I remove the shelf seen to the left of my enlarger. You mentioned that you can make your darkroom longer. Good idea; it will enable you to keep a handy shelf next to the enlarger.

All my plumbing and electrical is on the left wall. (Obviously.) What's not so obvious is that it's all mounted on a half-inch sheet of plywood that itself has been mounted to the wall on two vertical 2"X2"'s. It connects via a single plug and two hoses (hot and cold). When we move from our home, it moves with me . . . intact.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

Ai Print · Mar 4, 2017

Nice one Neal, a good use of the space!

I just dismantled my storage closet darkroom in which I was able to do 16x20's pretty easily with a slick tray stacker that had a closed loop ventilation system. With a large refrigerator / freezer and various stored items in it I had about 900mm x 1,500mm of space and I even managed 20x24" prints using Jobo 3063 drums.

With no plumbing of any kind, it was a love / hate kind of thing but it confirmed my desire to have a real darkroom space which I am building out now.

I think the fact that people are making & using darkrooms in 2017 is just fantastic.

ac12 · Mar 4, 2017

awty said:
Hi all
In the process of building a small darkroom in the back corner of my garage (took 3 days to clear about 20 years of accumulated rubbish). I haven't started construction yet but my basic out line will be 1700mm wide and about 1500mm deep. Small door in the middle one end and a purpose built trough with drainage and running water one side and bench space for a enlarger and stuff on the other. I will have storage room out if needed for plenty of elbow space. I am depending on time of day around 186cm tall (6'1 and a bit in grandad measurements) medium build, cramped space does not bother me (im a plumber, am use to it). I have no darkroom experience in the last 25 years. Would be making prints of up to around 500mm/20", also maybe Lith and wet plate and other stuff
So what I want to know is that going to be adequate?
Could make it longer if necessary, but not wider.
How high, wide and deep should I make the trough?
How high for the bench?
How should I ventilate?
Anything else I should consider before I start?
Thanks

In general, the more space for the wet side the better, as it allows you to have a longer sink to use larger trays for larger prints. But all is not lost if you don't have the space.
- Stacking trays while possibly difficult to use, will let you use vertical space.
- A rocking tray (Honeywell Rocking Print Tray or Heath/Mitchell Color Canoe).
- Rotary drum.
How high, the front edge of the ink should be about elbow height. Stand, bend your forearm as if to rest it on the sink.
Ventilation should have the exhaust over the wet side, specifically where the fixer and stop bath is, so you suck the chemical vapors out, rather than circulate it in the darkroom. Intake through a heater filter, to minimize dust intake into the darkroom.
The enlarger counter should be at a height so you have as much height above the counter as you can get. Some enlargers come in a XL version with a taller column. Get the specs for the tallest enlarger you are likely to use, then add 6 inches. And note that the head of the enlarger rises above the column, so the spec should note that.
Sorry but no experience with Lit and wet plate, so have to bow to others on that.
Paint the darkroom WHITE, with flat black around the enlarger. If the darkroom is light-tight, white on the inside won't hurt, but make it more pleasant to be in, as it reflects the safelight so it isn't like being in a dark cave.

awty · Mar 4, 2017

M Carter said:
One of the best books I've ever seen on darkroom printing is Tim Rudman's "Master Printing Course" - out of print but still out there used very cheap (his toning book goes for hundreds now). Really fantastic resource, even the more advanced stuff is clearly explained. Goes from the basics to some crazy stuff, and he shows original neg and final result - many recipes for bleaches and toners. It's my #1 pick for printing.

As for lith - there are almost no papers manufactured today that lith well, so hunting down expired paper on eBay can become quite an obsession.

I found an old battered version ebay for $7 cost nearly twice as much to post.

awty · Mar 4, 2017

Thanks for all the great advice every one. The sink will be about 600mm x 1800mm (2'x6') That will have to do.
No more mucking around started building. Will make the dry side a little more module so I can adjust to suite and also I can make my own trays and racks to suite. My main storage area will be out side the dark room, so I will mostly just have what I need inside.
It wont be as nice as the photos people have posted but it will do.
Again thanks. I'll post some picks latter when there is something to see.

ac12 · Mar 4, 2017

Whatever you do will be miles ahead of my temp setup in a small half bath.

N-Joy it

awty · Mar 5, 2017

Chased the termites out, framed up and made the sink.
The sink has a rear set down trough and all drains to the back corner.
Should I make some 1/4" slats for the sink floor so trays don't suck to the sink floor?
Have enough ply to make an enlarger bench.
Still got to wet seal, do the plumbing, run some power, sheet the walls, tile the etc etc but its a start.

ac12 · Mar 5, 2017

Yes small risers for the trays is a good idea.
They also let the water drain past the trays.

If I were to build a small darkroom?

awty

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If I were to build a small darkroom?

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