Random darkroom lights

subtlelikeatrex · Jul 22, 2025

Hi folks. I hope this is the right spot for this question.

I’ve got my darkroom set up in my spare room with my Super Chromega C Dichroic enlarger but I’ve got a bunch of random LED lights in here too. My internet modem and wifi router have several green LEDs each…there are green LEDs on the two surge protectors…etc

I don’t really want to permanently cover all these little LEDs with electrical tape and I don’t want to have to repeatedly apply and remove tape over them either. I also don’t feel safe throwing fabric over the surge protectors to block those lights. I suppose I could just throw my change bag over the modem and router but there’s still a few other random LEDs in the room. And of course i don’t want to shut off the internet to the whole house whenever I’m printing. (Nor can I move the location of the router and modem).

I see that there are red safelight filters available but they all seem like they’re for specific light fixtures. Is there something I can buy like loose sheets of red safelight filter material that I can cut out myself and permanently leave over all the random LED lights in my studio?

Would Rubylith masking film work or is there something more suited for photographic darkrooms? Am I overthinking all this?

Thanks!
José

koraks · Jul 22, 2025

subtlelikeatrex said:
Would Rubylith masking film work or is there something more suited for photographic darkrooms?

It'll be almost the same as simply covering the LEDs with black gaffer tape. LEDs are narrow-wavelength devices. A blue led emits around 450-480nm, green usually around 525nm, yellow/amber is around 580-600nm and red usually around 620nm. The cutoff frequency of rubylith is somewhere around 600-620nm, which means that virtually all light of smaller wavelengths is blocked. This means that your green, blue and amber/yellow LEDs will simply not show anymore and you might as well block them off with something like gaffer's tape or tinfoil, cinefoil etc. Red LEDs you can mask with Rubylith, but it's generally not really necessary if you just print B&W VC in that room. Of course for film loading etc. the place needs to be entirely dark to begin with.

You have to keep in mind that a filter like Rubylith doesn't change the color of light. It just blocks certain colors. If the light source emits a color that's blocked by the filter, you simply see nothing.

I had the same challenge you have since my darkroom is basically a multi-purpose space; it's my home office, darkroom, hobby room etc. There's a computer with monitors and all kinds of equipment, a network switch with blinking lights etc. Some of the LEDs I've masked with tape, in other cases (e.g. a network switch) I've actually removed the series resistors from the LEDs inside the switch so that they cannot light up anymore (external masking wouldn't have been effective due to all the seams and holes in the housing). Some equipment like the split unit aircon I just don't run when I'm working in the dark. Computer monitors I just turn off (standby LEDs are masked with tape), same with the cordless mouse. So basically I've decided from a practical and case-by-case viewpoint how to darken each of the unwanted light sources. I've even gone so far on a keyboard I used previously to swap out the green LEDs for amber ones (since I also print color), but on my present keyboard I've not bothered and I just turn Num Lock off when going to 'dark mode'.

BobUK · Jul 22, 2025

I happily use a piece of Rubylith over the digital display of my darkroom wireless.
The lights on my two enlarger timers have been chosen by the makers to be safe when in use. Hopefully.

subtlelikeatrex · Jul 24, 2025

koraks said:
It'll be almost the same as simply covering the LEDs with black gaffer tape. LEDs are narrow-wavelength devices. A blue led emits around 450-480nm, green usually around 525nm, yellow/amber is around 580-600nm and red usually around 620nm. The cutoff frequency of rubylith is somewhere around 600-620nm, which means that virtually all light of smaller wavelengths is blocked. This means that your green, blue and amber/yellow LEDs will simply not show anymore and you might as well block them off with something like gaffer's tape or tinfoil, cinefoil etc. Red LEDs you can mask with Rubylith, but it's generally not really necessary if you just print B&W VC in that room. Of course for film loading etc. the place needs to be entirely dark to begin with.

You have to keep in mind that a filter like Rubylith doesn't change the color of light. It just blocks certain colors. If the light source emits a color that's blocked by the filter, you simply see nothing.

I had the same challenge you have since my darkroom is basically a multi-purpose space; it's my home office, darkroom, hobby room etc. There's a computer with monitors and all kinds of equipment, a network switch with blinking lights etc. Some of the LEDs I've masked with tape, in other cases (e.g. a network switch) I've actually removed the series resistors from the LEDs inside the switch so that they cannot light up anymore (external masking wouldn't have been effective due to all the seams and holes in the housing). Some equipment like the split unit aircon I just don't run when I'm working in the dark. Computer monitors I just turn off (standby LEDs are masked with tape), same with the cordless mouse. So basically I've decided from a practical and case-by-case viewpoint how to darken each of the unwanted light sources. I've even gone so far on a keyboard I used previously to swap out the green LEDs for amber ones (since I also print color), but on my present keyboard I've not bothered and I just turn Num Lock off when going to 'dark mode'.

I wound up throwing my change bag over the router and modem and that worked perfectly for those.
The others I did wind up using black gaff or otherwise unplugged things. Not too much of a hassle I suppose.

koraks · Jul 25, 2025

Perfect!

john_s · Jul 25, 2025

I use grey electrical tape to dim LEDs. I can still see the LED but they are quite subdued.

Bill Burk · Jul 25, 2025

subtlelikeatrex said:
Hi folks. I hope this is the right spot for this question.

I’ve got my darkroom set up in my spare room with my Super Chromega C Dichroic enlarger but I’ve got a bunch of random LED lights in here too. My internet modem and wifi router have several green LEDs each…there are green LEDs on the two surge protectors…etc

I don’t really want to permanently cover all these little LEDs with electrical tape and I don’t want to have to repeatedly apply and remove tape over them either. I also don’t feel safe throwing fabric over the surge protectors to block those lights. I suppose I could just throw my change bag over the modem and router but there’s still a few other random LEDs in the room. And of course i don’t want to shut off the internet to the whole house whenever I’m printing. (Nor can I move the location of the router and modem).

I see that there are red safelight filters available but they all seem like they’re for specific light fixtures. Is there something I can buy like loose sheets of red safelight filter material that I can cut out myself and permanently leave over all the random LED lights in my studio?

Would Rubylith masking film work or is there something more suited for photographic darkrooms? Am I overthinking all this?

Thanks!
José

Amberlith is perfect for the job. Rubylith is darker, also good. Both are expensive unless you have some lying around.

I’d put the network gear in a cabinet, or cover with a mesh or vented door like gym lockers have.

koraks · Jul 25, 2025

Bill Burk said:
Amberlith is perfect for the job

No, it's not. See #2.

ags2mikon · Jul 25, 2025

And don't forget your cell phone. Don't ask me how I know.

BobUK · Jul 26, 2025

When bulk loading film cassettes I drape a cloth over the mechanical clock that has luminous hands and dial markers.
Also I also put the Rototherm thermometer away in a drawer. It looks like a meat skewer with a circular dial on the end. The sort of thermometer stabbed into a cooked chicken or joint of meat to see if it is properly cooked inside. It is surprisingly bright.

subtlelikeatrex · Jul 27, 2025

ags2mikon said:
And don't forget your cell phone. Don't ask me how I know.

Thankfully I’ve always remembered to put it on do not disturb it I’m sure I’ll forget eventually

RalphLambrecht · Jul 27, 2025

subtlelikeatrex said:
Hi folks. I hope this is the right spot for this question.

I’ve got my darkroom set up in my spare room with my Super Chromega C Dichroic enlarger but I’ve got a bunch of random LED lights in here too. My internet modem and wifi router have several green LEDs each…there are green LEDs on the two surge protectors…etc

I don’t really want to permanently cover all these little LEDs with electrical tape and I don’t want to have to repeatedly apply and remove tape over them either. I also don’t feel safe throwing fabric over the surge protectors to block those lights. I suppose I could just throw my change bag over the modem and router but there’s still a few other random LEDs in the room. And of course i don’t want to shut off the internet to the whole house whenever I’m printing. (Nor can I move the location of the router and modem).

I see that there are red safelight filters available but they all seem like they’re for specific light fixtures. Is there something I can buy like loose sheets of red safelight filter material that I can cut out myself and permanently leave over all the random LED lights in my studio?

Would Rubylith masking film work or is there something more suited for photographic darkrooms? Am I overthinking all this?

Thanks!
José

all those little red LEDs will have no effect on yourprinting. I'd be more concetned with light leaks from the outside. sit in your darkroom with all the light off for 30 minutes and seeif you can see any light leaks or ,better yet conduct a fogging test to see if you haveanything to worry about.

ags2mikon · Jul 27, 2025

In April I installed 2 new mini split A/C / heat pumps in my darkroom to replace the old and inefficient window style A/C units. After the install my son brought his night vision thingy over and we looked for light leaks caused by the install. We found a few where the pipes went through the wall and repaired them. But the rest of the darkroom had many very small light leaks around the doors, where water lines come in and where electrical comes in. My router is inside a cabinet and the door leaks light too. The night vision device is a great tool if you have one or know someone that will help you find the leaks. We marked mine with masking tape and then made repairs at my my own speed later. Next week we are going to re test my repairs. The night vision device can be adjusted to different light levels. At mid level my router can illuminate the entire darkroom with the cabinet door open at the other end of the darkroom. Pan F probably wouldn't see it, but Delta 3200 might.

David Brown · Jul 27, 2025

Amazon has a ton of light dimming stickers and tapes, etc. They're mainly marketed for dimming clocks and things so one can sleep better, but may serve your purposes. I bought a product called "Dim It" yeas ago.

BobUK · Jul 27, 2025

ags2mikon said:
And don't forget your cell phone. Don't ask me how I know.

I have a dimmable app on my mobile called "Big timer."
A large digital, red display, count down or up timer.
After reading the above post I gave it a try with an incoming call whilst the app is running.
Result, a lovely bright patch of white light telling me a call is coming in.

subtlelikeatrex · Jul 27, 2025

David Brown said:
Amazon has a ton of light dimming stickers and tapes, etc. They're mainly marketed for dimming clocks and things so one can sleep better, but may serve your purposes. I bought a product called "Dim It" yeas ago.

I quit giving money to Jeff Bezos a while back but I’ll keep an eye out from other sites.

mshchem · Jul 28, 2025

One thing to consider. Unless you use a lens to focus the light of that tiny little light ,it's not going to be detectable.

Yep, Jeff Bezos has too much money.

gordrob · Jul 28, 2025

In this day and age there are a lot of different blinking or sundry lights in your space. The worse are the ones you bring in regularly - your cell and your Fitbit or any other battery driven watch. I have taped over most of the signal type lights and throw a Crown Royal bag over my Ipod that I use for music. The first time I wore a Fitbit in the darkroom it lit up while spooling a roll of film onto the developing reel. It now goes into a drawer with my phone till the darkroom session is over.

David Brown · Jul 29, 2025

subtlelikeatrex said:
I quit giving money to Jeff Bezos a while back but I’ll keep an eye out from other sites.

(sigh). Of course there are other sources and vendors ...

Pegajoy · Jul 31, 2025

mshchem said:
Yep, Jeff Bezos has too much money.

Yes. But on Amazon you are more or less safe. I prefer to give it him and get what I am ordered in time and not to give it to all the scammers and get nothing for my money.
And I am interested on real information regarding solving photographic related information, not reading political statements.

ags2mikon · Jul 31, 2025

I have had far less problems on Amazon than Fleece Bay.

subtlelikeatrex · Jul 31, 2025

Pegajoy said:
Yes. But on Amazon you are more or less safe. I prefer to give it him and get what I am ordered in time and not to give it to all the scammers and get nothing for my money.
And I am interested on real information regarding solving photographic related information, not reading political statements.

One could argue that ebay is also more or less safe, albeit in a more roundabout way. eBay has policy protections for buyers. It may just take longer if a buyer has to open a dispute. If an item is received and is not as described in the original listing, it is the seller’s obligation to refund the purchase price and pay for return shipping. I just started the return process for this junk lens and their system gave me a shipping label and indicated that return shipping would be free for me.

mshchem · Aug 1, 2025

subtlelikeatrex said:
One could argue that ebay is also more or less safe, albeit in a more roundabout way. eBay has policy protections for buyers. It may just take longer if a buyer has to open a dispute. If an item is received and is not as described in the original listing, it is the seller’s obligation to refund the purchase price and pay for return shipping. I just started the return process for this junk lens and their system gave me a shipping label and indicated that return shipping would be free for me.

Good to hear.

WillemdeLange · Aug 23, 2025

Grey tape works fine!

subtlelikeatrex · Aug 30, 2025

I wound up building a small box with blind ventilation to cover my router and modem. I made it out of black foamcore and black gaff tape. That works perfectly. Allows the gear to breathe and blocks all the light from them. Everything else I’ve just covered with several small squares of black gaff or I unplug it. Thanks everyone for the tips.

Random darkroom lights

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Random darkroom lights

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