My Small Darkroom
This page is going to be an ongoing project, about an ongoing project. I’m going to use this page to document what equipment I have in my darkroom, and how I’ve got it laid out. It feels like I’m making good use of a small bench and room, and it might be of interest to people.
Developing Film
Developing film, technically, doesn’t need a darkroom. You just need somewhere with access to running water. I use the following equipment when developing film:
- Changing Bag
- Paterson Super System 4 tank – 2 reel size
- Digital thermometer – less than $10 on ebay should be about right
- Funnel
- Scissors
- Chemical storage bottles
- Stopwatch app
- 1 litre measuring cylinder with 10 ml markings
- 500 ml jug with 100 ml markings
Making Prints
Making prints is a bit more involved, and does need a dark room. My darkroom is small, but works well for what I do. I use the following equipment for making prints:
- Sink
- Durst F30 enlarger
- Masking frame (I don’t think they need to be this expensive!)
- Focus finder
- Safelight, so I can see
- Three 8×10 developing trays
- Three bamboo tongs with rubber ends
- A clothesline
- Plastic pegs
I also have a print dryer for fibre paper, but this is definitely in the non-essential pile of equipment.
Storage
Because it’s not a dedicated darkroom, my laundry needs to function as a laundry most of the time. So all of my darkroom equipment needs to be out of the way when it’s not in use. I installed a wall-hung drying rack for storing/drying the wet things.
I installed a shelf for storing all of the chemicals and other bits and pieces above this drying rack, and on the other side of the room, above the door, I installed a shelf to put the enlarger on.