When your Darkroom has a window...

[Ko.Fe.]

I have time to print only aster 9 PM. At this time most of the year it is dark enough already to leave window(s) unblanked.

 

[georgevp]

Years ago, in a parent house garage darkroom, my dad made a window blackout frame made out of wood that used black garden sheeting for the blackout material. It worked so well that I used it in a few darkroom bedrooms.

The current house has 8 little windows on the garage door and 2 vents for the hot water heater. I want to build something like a sliding window that I can attach a muffin fan, since the vents are the only ones that exist in the garage. The other garage had no vent other than the exhaust from the furnace and hot water heater. Never really needed an exhaust fan since I stopped using stop bath because found out that water or vinegar works just as well but doesn't smell as bad or eat holes in clothes.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/HUSKY-8-ft-x-100-ft-Black-6-mil-Plastic-Sheeting-CF0608B/202184215

 

[gone]

That black plastic sheeting is what I used too. Found it in a roll of 20'x100' at Ace Hardware for $20. I think they mainly sell it as a heavy duty drop cloth, works great, it's really good at blocking direct sunlight.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I cut a piece of 1" plywood and shaped it to fit into the window. I added two handles so that I could insert it and remove it. Finally I added a large piece of black out cloth the extend 18" beyond the edges to the outside of the plywood so that the cloth comes around the board. After I insert the board I spread out the cloth around the window and keep it in place with gaffer's tape.

 

[glbeas]

I had black plastic sheeting on the window of my first darkroom, worked reasonably well even with the afternoon sun beating directly on it. Then I found infrared film to play with and discovered the black plastic was very permeable to infrared light. Even cardboard let some through. Several layers of aluminum foil added is all it takes to correct that situation and if put on the outside facing part will also redirect the heat from the sun away. Use both foil and plastic as the foil is prone to pinholes over time.

 

[Light Capture]

I stapled velcro in few places around window and attached other side of velcro on black out cloth.
100% light tight and easily removable.

Made same black out cloth pieces and attachment for doors.

I'll second what Ko. Fe. said: it should be fine for printing at night if there's no direct street light coming in. Safelight test with coin can be done to check if there is too much light.

 

[Sirius Glass]

In my dry darkroom I bought Velcro with tape backing that I used to attach the blackout cloth attached to the wall.

 

[GKC]

I cut a piece of cardboard box to fit, with 3" extra at the edges, bent to form a flange and simply crammed into place so it holds it in window frame and cuts extraneous light sneaking around the edges.
I've used the same piece of cardboard for the last 20 years. I've taped the folds with black duct tape for strength and fix any leaks from repeated bending.
It lives in a closet when not being used.

 

[Bronson Dugnutt]

Is it a window with a view? Break out your process lenses...

 

[drmoss_ca]

I was lucky that the window I had to deal with was a single pane with a flyscreen mounted on the inside of it. I took the flyscreen out, wrapped it in a black plastic garbage bag (two layers) and then clipped the screen back into place. No light leaks.

 

[Alan9940]

My darkroom is a spare bedroom with a huge window. I constructed a fairly elaborate setup to eliminate all light (the blazing sun out here in the desert is REALLY bright!) and is certainly not easily removed. I mounted standard window weatherstripping around the door frame (from the outside) and use a rolled-up bathroom rug to block light from entering under the door. Years ago, I vaguely remember seeing some sort of black plastic material that would stick to glass and could easily be removed (and, could be used over and over.) Might want to do a bit of surfing the 'net to see if you can find a similar product.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have two flatten boxes taped around the edges with gaffers tape to keep it from opening. I place the two to cover the window, behind the blinds. Then over that is the blackout cloth which is attached with Velcro. ==> Cardboard, blinds, blackout cloth.