OK, for the last time, once and for all, what color to paint the darkroom?

darkroommike · Sep 16, 2017

Gerald C Koch said:
As Eric Burdon and The Animals say 'Paint It Black' (Sorry but I couldn't find any decent recording but if you can get part the LONG introduction the song is there.),

https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/...=f067e0e99a7d46c365d6aff5e71c56b4&action=view

I just had to say that but in really paint it white.

Paint It Black is by the Rolling Stones. .

dpurdy · Sep 16, 2017

Mine had a red door but I painted it black.

Down Under · Sep 16, 2017

Turquoise.

Why? Well, my mother painted our entire house interior (not the exterior, in our small Canadian town the neighbors would have gossiped about us) in this color in 1955, excepting only my bedroom, as I threatened to leave home if she did. I was an only child at the time, so I got my way.

Years later we ended up in New Mexico, where I dipped deeply into the native culture and learned to love the color for its unique cultural meaning.

Dark colors in the darkroom deaden everything, including one's soul. Framed prints in natural wood frames look good on a darker wall, however.

Just go to your local paint shop, gather a few samplers (the small brochures the paint companies put out to promote their latest colors), go home, mull it over a good whisky or two, and decide.

So what color is my darkroom? Huh... I don't know. My partner selected the color and did the painting, the room is also used as an architectural drafting area.

I do know it isn't turquoise. That's about it. One color is as good as another.

Konical · Sep 16, 2017

Good Evening,

I agree with others above who prefer white, except flat black near the enlarger.

Konical

voceumana · Sep 16, 2017

Last darkroom I constructed had white walls, even around the enlarger. It was a glossy finish provided by tileboard (like markerboard surface) on 2 of the walls (by the dry side) and white semi-gloss paint on the 2 other walls. Reflections were more specular than diffuse (so they tended to reflect away from the source). I had no problems with reflections from any light leaks around the walls near the enlarger. A white darkroom makes much more efficient use of the light that is available.

As photographers we are supposed to understand how light works, so if you give it a little thought, you'll figure it out.

Gerald C Koch · Sep 16, 2017

darkroommike said:
Paint It Black is by the Rolling Stones. .

I stand corrected. I am only familiar with The Animals version.

mrosenlof · Sep 17, 2017

mine is light yellow.

"last time, once and for all"?? good luck with that part!

CMoore · Sep 17, 2017

I have seen ALL KINDS of paint schemes in darkrooms for the last 40 years.
My darkroom is a converted bedroom. There was enough work involved with doing THAT...i did not want to repaint the "bedroom" again, as i had just done it a year before.
So my darkroom has a.....
White Ceiling
"Medium" Green Walls
I have not noticed any problems ....... plus, i hate to paint.

M Carter · Sep 18, 2017

All I'll say is use an "eggshell" or semi-matte anywhere liquids might splash on the walls. Blotchy-yellow-brown walls looks like you have roof leaks of something, flat paint is impossible to clean.

I got a big sheet of some sort of formica/melamine stuff that covers part of one wall and curves out over a sink at the bottom for sticking wet prints up and squeegieing things, that's been very handy. You don't want any texture for that use.

harlequin · Sep 18, 2017

Dear APUG Photo Members,

I wanted to Thank You all for your suggestions on painting the darkroom, I shall be painting it this week and post some
photos of it this week, again thanks for you input!

With the Exception of post #7 (Greg Heath), your comments were as "PATHETIC AS THE PACKERS" were on Sunday.
What a jackass!
As a result, I shall NOT be painting it pink, besides do modern women even do sewing anymore?

Many Thanks for your input!!

Harlequin

wy2l · Sep 18, 2017

Zebra stripes, alternating puce and pomegranate. Or, on a more serious side, see what's at the discount table at your local paint store.

swchris · Sep 18, 2017

mine is middle gray...

studiocarter · Sep 20, 2017

WHITE. Mine was black and I couldn't find a thing with the lights on. When there is no light, there is no light. It doesn't matter what color it is.

Old-N-Feeble · Sep 20, 2017

Flat black around the enlarger and white everywhere else.

removed account4 · Sep 20, 2017

Eric Rose said:
Black

+1

Arklatexian · Sep 20, 2017

studiocarter said:
WHITE. Mine was black and I couldn't find a thing with the lights on. When there is no light, there is no light. It doesn't matter what color it is.

My thinking exactly. If my enlarger leaks enough light to fog paper, I need to work on my enlarger rather than paint around with flat black (easier to write than say). My darkroom is painted "off white" semi-matte except for the sink which is machine-gray inside and out. Why isn't the sink off white also? I think it looks better when the lights are on......Regards!

TheFlyingCamera · Sep 21, 2017

If you're doing b/w printing, the color of the room doesn't matter quite so much. If you do any color printing, then it should be either neutral white, neutral gray, or black.Otherwise you'll get a color cast when viewing prints, and if your enlarger leaks light, you could get a color cast in the print itself from the reflected light.

trendland · Sep 21, 2017

harlequin said:
Dear APUG/PhotoRIO Analog Members.

Got a few hours to go to Home Depot or Sherwin Williams this weekend.....WHAT COLOR do I paint the darkroom?

a) Area measures 9x11 with 12' ceilings
b) Has small window with covering for fresh air intake or exhaust
c) The area is all fresh primed drywall, nothing exotic.
d) standard door is light tight.
e) Shall be using Kodak can safelight on one side and Patterson red globe on other wall.

I remember 30 years ago everything was painted flat black, (high school), is that the best solution today?

I did venture into a big lab in Los Angeles (LaBrea/Highland) that was painted faint pink, don't know
why but was pretty soothing. They did paint the area behind the enlarger flat black for no excessive light
spill I presume? Looking at other darkrooms they go from plain concrete to bright white to Kodak yellow.

Someone said "gloss black". Another person said "18% grey".....there has to be some consensus. Maybe PE can
chime in to hear what they did in Rochester during America's dominance in the photographic race...

I really appreciate the feedback and opinion since I intend to spend less time watching CNN and more time
with my medium format negatives in my newly finished and painted darkroom. My printing time would be 2-3 hours
at a time, not an 8 hour shift...

Many Many Thanks!

Harlequin

Harlequin there is One Color you should not use : radioactive flourescent luminous color.

The rest is on you !

with regards

Sirius Glass · Sep 22, 2017

Any color will do.

OK, for the last time, once and for all, what color to paint the darkroom?

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