Removable light sealing

[LMNOP]

I have been so caught up with the idea of home-printing BW that I've forgotten the most essential element, or lack there of. My office has two windows, pretty standard size, gets a lot of light, including two nearby streetlights at night. I've searched APUG for lightsealing techniques, seems like black commando cloth is the way to go, but how would one attach this in a non permanent way? Also, does anyone know a source for such cloth that doesn't come in a large quantity? I only need enough to cover two windows. That, and the door must be sealed, but I want to have natural lighting in the office when I'm not printing, so easily removed, maybe velcro? Anyone have shots of a similar setup? Is it possible to have it all?

 

[Jim Jones]

Two layers of black plastic sheeting from a farm/home/garden store should block enough light. A sheet of foamcore cut precisely to the inside size of the window frame might hold it in place.

 

[paul_c5x4]

I only need enough to cover two windows. [...] maybe velcro?

I use blackout cloth from a home furnishing store - Most places sell it by the metre (or yard). Self adhesive velcro is stuck round the window & door frames and to the blackout cloth. Don't try to sew it or you'll end up with a neat row of pinholes...

Two problems with this. a) the velcro round the window/door frame looks pretty ugly. b) The paint will probably pull away if/when I remove the velcro strips.
If i had to do it again without the risk of damaging paint, I'd probably go with Jim's suggestion.

 

[gone]

It's funny, I was just outside building something for my two windows in the bedroom earlier today. My bathroom has just gotten too cramped.

I used what I had, which was some 1x1/2 wood, and made a square frame a few inches larger than my windows from 4 pieces (8 for the 2 windows) and some wood screws. Looks like a canvas stretcher. Then I braced it in the corners, and found some old boxes that camera gear had come in. Those boxes were broken down and cut to size, then stapled onto the frame. Then I painted it w/ flat black from some spray cans. It uses up a lot of paint though, and the coverage is not good, so the other one will get the paint brushed on.

Next, I am going to cover the edges that sit against the wall w/ some old cut up towels or felt (just staple it on) so there will be no light leaks on the edges where it sits against the wall. I screwed a 1x1 the same length as the frames under each window to rest the frames on, and am still figuring out how to quickly and easily cinch the frames up to the wall. Might just use a couple of bungee cords to pull it up flush once I set a couple of hooks on either side of the window. All I needed for tools was a staple gun, a Phillips bit for my drill, a handsaw, and a pair of scissors for the boxes.

I had been duct taping foam panels up to the window in the bathroom to keep light out, and it was a major PITA to undo it every time. Plus, foam board is not good to use, as it will allow a lot of light to shine right through, so I had to paint them anyway. The cardboard boxes are better at stopping light. This new system will be much faster to put up and take down.

For your door, just use a thick blanket. Stuff it in at the top (or tack it, or tape it up) and it will fall flat and only need a little taping in a few places on the side. A rolled up towel is good for the bottom if your blanket doesn't go all the way down.

 

[LMNOP]

Two layers of black plastic sheeting from a farm/home/garden store should block enough light. A sheet of foamcore cut precisely to the inside size of the window frame might hold it in place.

Thanks, Jim! This sounds like the answer!

 

[Sirius Glass]

I put wide velco tape on the blackout cloth, pealed the backing and then attached the blackout cloth with the velco to the wall. I remove the cloth by separating the velco and fold up the cloth. I have done this for windows and over the tops of doors for years and never had a problem.

 

[M Carter]

I just bought the right size blackout curtains from eBay, $15 to do my door and I got an extra one in the deal. Lots of new overstock, etc. on there. They're deep blue but total blackout.

I stapled black felt across the top and sides that overlaps the door a bit, with the curtain rod under those pieces. Works great and I can go in and out (my darkroom is dedicated so it's black seamless paper and gaffer tape on the windows until I come up with something better, so far so good though).

 

[AgX]

Don't try to sew it or you'll end up with a neat row of pinholes...

Is that an academic or practical issue?

the velcro round the window/door frame looks pretty ugly.

Chosing white or brown velcro tape might make it less worse.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I put wide velco tape on the blackout cloth, pealed the backing and then attached the blackout cloth with the velco to the wall. I remove the cloth by separating the velco and fold up the cloth. I have done this for windows and over the tops of doors for years and never had a problem.

I used black velco tape.

 

[paul_c5x4]

Don't try to sew it or you'll end up with a neat row of pinholes...

Is that an academic or practical issue?

On the first blind I made, the velcro was stitched along each side of the tape. When hung over the window, I had a line of pinholes from one row of stitching, so yes, a practical observation.

 

[analoguey]

Black or block out -whatever the name be, it comes in a few shades, black works the best (I bought them at a furnishing store).
Velcro holds it well.

Paul's obsevation on pinholes is correct, but if the Room is sufficiently large, those might not matter too much.
Velcro fixing At Office space might be an issue, but Imho it holds up the best.

What I learnt wasthat it's better to be having slightly larger tailored cloth piece -cos then even with wind /sagging etc., the window does remain fully covered.

 

[ic-racer]

I installed this light-tight blind in my office:

 

[jeffreyg]

This has worked for me covering the two doors to my darkroom. Blackout cloth ( wider and longer than the openings) attached top an bottom to 1 1/2 inch diameter dowel sticks the same width as the cloth. Place two "L" hooks over the opening. The top dowel rests on the hooks and the bottom weighs the cloth down on the bottom. When not in use just roll up the cloth like a scroll and stick in a closet. Mine have worked for forty years.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[goldenimage]

Wal mart sells black out curtains that work very well for me