RE: Dream Darkroom!! (Questions)

Dianne,

I built my dream darkroom three years ago.... I've out grown it!!

FWIW: I built a sink (fiberglas) 12 feet long by 36" wide. It's too small
in both dimensions (4 20x24 trays and a print washer *just barely* fit...)

On the dry side (12' long): three enlargers: a B-22, a D-2 and a Durst 8x10.
Work bench is too narrow and not deep enough to enlarge anything bigger than
20x24" with either the B-22 or D-2 - and that just barely.

I *never* thought I'd need anything more than what I designed and built -
this is my 8th darkroom. Lesson: If you have the space to spread out (i.e.
35 feet!!) - use it all!!! It will never be wasted or regretted.

Good luck. Have FUN!!

Jon
www.jonathan-bailey.com
Tenants Harbor, Maine

-----
From: Best, Dianne
To: alt-photo-process-l@skyway.usask.ca
Sent: Friday, April 22, 2005 2:21 PM
Subject: Dream Darkroom!! (Questions)

My present darkroom is a small bedroom on the main floor
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/calamityjanecanary/Darkroom2.jpg It
has served me well but I need the space so I am planning to move my darkroom
to the basement within the next year so

The basement will provide ALOT more room and also accommodate a light-trap
entrance so my assistant (a Bloodhound) can come and go without letting in
the light. The easiest way to light-proof the basement is to do the entire
space (1 door and 2 windows), so I'll have lots of room, about 18x35 feet,
(shared with the furnace, water pump, laundry, etc.)

One end of the basement has a "cold room", about 6x10 feet with shelves on
two walls where preserves were stored - that will become a storage room for
chemicals and such.

I have space along one wall that is about 16 feet long and I was planning to
use a 2x8' space for a dry side and the other 2x8 for wet side (one LONG
sink with removable covers).

I also have a room about 10 by 14 feet (no door) next to the cold room that
I am thinking of using for an "exposure room" so I can do exposures without
having stray light in the darkroom.

I think I have all the bases covered as far as the conventional darkroom but
since I have drifted into Tintypes and POP prints, I can foresee getting
into more "alternative" photography and I am wondering what additional
features I should plan into my darkroom design for the alternate processes.
Since I am fairly new to the alternatives, I thought the people on the List
might have more ideas.

This will be my "dream darkroom", probably the last one I will have before
"the old fart's home" so I want to do it right! What should be in an
alternative darkroom that gets forgotten?

Calamity Jane
(aka Dianne Best)

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Received on Fri Apr 22 19:52:06 2005