Viewing darkroom

[bojanfurst]

A colleague and I are thinking of applying for residency at a crafts incubator (for a lack of better word). It's a beautiful facility with 10 workspaces for 10 different people. It's meant to provide affordable workspace for emerging craftspeople. Each workspace is self-contained with water supply and ventilation. We can also figure out safe chemicals disposal.

There is a catch. The idea is that you can work and sell your stuff there and interact with people who should ideally be able to see you work. Now, there is a bit of a zoo-like feel to this, but the benefits outweigh my discomfort at the moment. However, that is obviously not practical in a darkroom setting which cannot be open for people to just walk in. We would work strictly with black and white films/papers. We would not develop film, only make prints. We thought a potential solution would be to build a small window with red glass facing indoors. There would be no direct sunlight hitting the window. Any opinions on whether or not this could work? Much appreciate any help or suggestions.

 

[cliveh]

A colleague and I are thinking of applying for residency at a crafts incubator (for a lack of better word). It's a beautiful facility with 10 workspaces for 10 different people. It's meant to provide affordable workspace for emerging craftspeople. Each workspace is self-contained with water supply and ventilation. We can also figure out safe chemicals disposal.

There is a catch. The idea is that you can work and sell your stuff there and interact with people who should ideally be able to see you work. Now, there is a bit of a zoo-like feel to this, but the benefits outweigh my discomfort at the moment. However, that is obviously not practical in a darkroom setting which cannot be open for people to just walk in. We would work strictly with black and white films/papers. We would not develop film, only make prints. We thought a potential solution would be to build a small window with red glass facing indoors. There would be no direct sunlight hitting the window. Any opinions on whether or not this could work? Much appreciate any help or suggestions.

I can't see a darkroom being valid in this sort of space, would it not be better to use it as an exhibition area for what you produced elsewhere?

 

[snapguy]

Camera

How about an infrared night vision camera on a swivel with a zoom and monitors outside the darkroom? Or several cameras, focusing in on different areas? No reason to not use new technology to promote well-tested technology.

 

[bdial]

The red window could be made to work. I've heard of darkrooms with exterior windows that are filtered with red gels, never worked in one though.
If you have the floor space you could build a light-trap entry where people could actually come in. I think that would be a more effective demonstration of how this magic works, but it would probably be distracting for getting actual work done.

 

[canuhead]

If you did alt process like pt/pd, then people could watch you work without the need for a darkroom. If these are familiar processes of course.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

The IR night vision camera with a monitor for viewing is a good approach. I've seen such a system in a lab used to monitor a Refrema dip-and-dunk machine from outside the room.

 

[Newt_on_Swings]

Since it will be for black and white paper printing only, then a thomas duplex or bright LEDs can light the place for viewing through a window. Maybe make the viewing window a cone with a large binocular eye cup to peer into so that it can block out light that would otherwise reflect off the glass/gel in between.

Also I have recently purchased a foscam that has a very nice ring of IR lights and a IR capable camera that can adjust its view through a very simple web app to allow you to point it at whatever you want by pressing arrows. A set of these mounted above your work area would also work well, and have the space be interactive with maybe touch screen monitors outside or a simple mouse for them to click.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

The classic method is a small hallway with lightproof doors on each end. This allows easy entry/exit while keeping the darkroom dark. There are also lightproof revolving doors available that do the same thing in a bit smaller space. People could then just come and go as they please.

Best,

Doremus

 

[Jim Jones]

I occasionally worked in a graphic arts darkroom with Rubylith on windows so people in the outside room light could look into the darkroom. They had to stand close to the windows and shield outside the room lights to see well. You would probably need an intercom for comfortable dialog. A light trap seems preferable.

 

[Steve Toner]

A light trap seems preferable.

Yeah. Can you build a viewing room that is a darkroom itself? Then you could have a regular window (or perhaps just a cutout with no glass) for viewing. Assuming you don't want people coming into the work area...

 

[Bill Burk]

I think the IR / security camera with a monitor outside the door is a cool idea.

You can also have a red light bulb outside the door with a sign under it saying, Knock first... Do not enter when Red light is on.

Turn the red light on (the one that says "darkroom in operation don't come in") only when you really need the dark (the paper is being taken out of the light safe, exposed, developed, dropped in the fix). Then turn off the red light, people can always come in and watch you fix the prints. As a rule of thumb, you might "open the door" whenever you don't need dark, and it will improve the ventilation and give the further impression that it's OK to come in and watch you work. Anyone in the room with you can stay and watch your next print if they're curious.

 

[MattKing]

Somewhere on APUG there is discussion about a school darkroom that included a rubylithed window. That was required because of school safety rules that required that teachers always be able to supervise student activities.

This should give you enough rubylith: Dead Link Removed

 

[cliveh]

Somewhere on APUG there is discussion about a school darkroom that included a rubylithed window. That was required because of school safety rules that required that teachers always be able to supervise student activities.

This should give you enough rubylith: Dead Link Removed

How do you supervise students through a rubylithed window?

 

[MattKing]

How do you supervise students through a rubylithed window?

Well, you can actually see what they are doing in the darkroom even when you are outside the darkroom.

 

[mgb74]

I like the idea of the rubylith covered window. While a light trap door system allowing people to enter would work well in theory, I don't think it's inviting to casual onlookers. They might be reluctant to enter. And I don't think the IR camera approach has the same "feel" as looking through a window; it seem removed from the actual activity (there's a reason that "Darkroom TV" is not on your local cable lineup). The window AND the light trap door in combination would be perfect. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Truzi]

I like the idea of having people enter. However, it would be too difficult to keep people from checking cell phones, or using other things that will fog your paper. Some sort of red window either to the outside, or within a dark hallway, would probably be best.

 

[bojanfurst]

You are all fabulous. I like many of these suggestions. Thank you! Will keep you posted if this gets to where we are hoping to get