Re: Darkening a Darkroom
I'll add; leave a coin on the paper while testing for fog (or more) so you can really see a change. On 10/20/06, Liam Lawless <
lawless@bulldoghome.com> wrote:Bill,
If it's solely alt work you intend and you're working with inkjet negs - and
not doing conventional enlarging - it probably doesn't need to be completely
dark; you don't need absolute blackness for handling printing-out materials
and lined curtains should block UV from outside effectively enough. If you
need to develop camera films, use a changing bag. But minimise unnecessary
exposure by using a box for drying coated papers. If you have chemicals to
hand, choose a bright day and run a test with curtain fabric temporarily
affixed over the window: coat your paper, dry it in the dark, then allow a
*reasonable* amount of exposure to the light of your semi-dark laundry room
(half an hour, say, to simulate normal handling of the paper on a *slow
day*) and process without exposing under your UV lights. Any perceptible
density will indicate that you ought to seek a better solution, but if
there's none, there's probably no need.
Liam
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill King [mailto:bill@billkingphoto.com]
Sent: 21 October 2006 00:03
To: alt-photo-process-l@usask.ca
Subject: Darkening a Darkroom
After lurking on this list for a long time, I'm finally forging ahead to
make my own prints. So that I can get started, I am converting my laundry
room into a multipurpose laundry room/darkroom for alt-processes. For those
of you who aren't able to dedicate a room full-time to alt-processes, what
techniques have you used to make the room dark? Are there particularly good
materials for blocking light (possibly black garden plastic)? Have you come
up with clever ways of attaching these materials so that they could be taken
down (or at least be unobtrusive) when needed? I have a small window (which
can remain blacked out) and a door (which needs to be functional for laundry
too) to worry about.
Thanks so much,
Bill
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