How to turn ur toilet to darkroom ?

Reyon · 20th April 2006

Need some advise on turning the toilet to darkroom.

how to cover the windows ?
how much is the safe light ?

enivre · 21st April 2006

i think u need a rather big toilet for that right? Just the enlarger alone will need it's own table, and most toilets I know of won't be able to fit a table leh...

Reyon · 21st April 2006

no pro on the table.
Already got a nice Table

Patryk · 21st April 2006

Alright.. someone who wants to do what i've managed to figure out in my own toilet

..

Ok, one big factor is the size of your toilet..and whether you can fit all the stuff you need in it. So here are the basic things you would need:

1. Enlarger

2. Table for enlarger (as small as possible to save space, but sturdy enuff to hold the enlarger)

3. Wet trays for chemicals and water as well as tongs.

4. Safe light (amber is safe enough, but most places only sell the dimmer red one which is almost safe for film development. Ruby sells a Philips red light for $15, but you may need a separate power cord with the bulb attachment, can find this at most electrical or hardware shops for a resonable price)

5. Table lamp (if you want to view your prints in normal light unless the light switch is located inside the toilet)

6. Rather thick blanket or curtains to cover up the windows. (I do my prints only at night, so when i cover up the toilet window, it is not so important to completely cover it up.. small amount of ambient can filter through some small cracks you can't fully cover up and still your prints would be unaffected. that is unless some of that light falls directly around your printing area, which in that case you need to fix that. but you must ensure that the material you are using to cover up your window is almost opaque, so that no light can filter through the material itself. Oh yeah, and make sure the lights outside the toilet are switched off, so as to prevent ambient light from coming in thru the cracks of the door)

7. Clips and hangers to hang up your prints to dry

8. Electric fan, coz it's gonna get pretty hot in there (make sure you trun it to low, and point it downwards.. you don't want too much circulation of air around your printing area which might introduce dust particles to your paper)

I'm guessing you do know about the basic materials you need to make prints, such as developer, fixer, stop bath if you want, photo paper..

It is important in such a small workspace that you create some sort of a work flow.. this is especially critical when it comes to the wet portion of the printing process.

Here's the basic work flow:

Exposure -> Developer -> Stop Bath (water is enough) -> Fixer -> Wash (water again)

There are many finer details but if were to explain it here, it would take forever..you can go on the internet to find more information or go browse around borders.. they have a good selection of darkroom books there..

Hope this helps, just ask if you have more questions..

Regards,
Patrick

enivre · 22nd April 2006

you forgot the sturdy lock to make sure no one enters ur toilet halfway thru ur darkroom session!!

jacob · 22nd April 2006

For Health Sake Make Sure Got Ventilation.

Patryk · 22nd April 2006

lol..ventilation.. yeap that's important..unfortunately my toilet suffers from a lack of ventilation..so after 2-3 prints, i usually step out for fresh air and to view my prints in the living room. i leave the fan turned on to circulate fresh air into the room.

jacob · 22nd April 2006

Originally Posted by Patryk

lol..ventilation.. yeap that's important..unfortunately my toilet suffers from a lack of ventilation..so after 2-3 prints, i usually step out for fresh air and to view my prints in the living room. i leave the fan turned on to circulate fresh air into the room.

i kena before.... with ventilation you'll know that it's the next morning already when you step out of your darkroom.....hehehehehe.

Patryk · 23rd April 2006

lol..that's true.. and also, must have a big sign to make sure that no one turns on the lights if the light switch is outside! haha.. i almost kenna..lucky my mom knocked on the door...

Reyon · 23rd April 2006

Thanks ppl for the advise

looks like need to redesign the toilet for ventilation.

enivre · 23rd April 2006

OT a bit but.. how much do you guys think it will cost to set up a darkroom capable of doing up to 4x5 (or MF) B&W prints?

I have a balcony/kitchen area I've been wanting to convert but never got down to it coz of the sheer size of the opening I need to seal up...

hondasleeper · 23rd April 2006

Originally Posted by Reyon

Thanks ppl for the advise

looks like need to redesign the toilet for ventilation.

Check these sites out for ideas on some ventilation and some other relevant information

http://www.bonavolta.ch/hobby/en/photo/labvent.htm

http://www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/...phic/fans.aspx

http://www.apogeephoto.com/mag1-4/mag1-4mf.shtml

http://www.ehow.com/how_14271_set-home-darkroom.html

http://www.apogeephoto.com/sept2000/home_darkroom.shtml

http://www.adorama.com/catalog.tpl?p...darkroom%20fan

Patryk · 24th April 2006

Originally Posted by enivre

OT a bit but.. how much do you guys think it will cost to set up a darkroom capable of doing up to 4x5 (or MF) B&W prints?

I have a balcony/kitchen area I've been wanting to convert but never got down to it coz of the sheer size of the opening I need to seal up...

not sure, i think the main consideration is the price of the enlarger that can handle 4x5 negs... don't know if they're considerably more expensive than those for 35mm.. everything else about the same.. rhoughly would need at least $200 for the other basic equipment excluding the enlarger...

enivre · 25th April 2006

Originally Posted by Patryk

not sure, i think the main consideration is the price of the enlarger that can handle 4x5 negs... don't know if they're considerably more expensive than those for 35mm.. everything else about the same.. rhoughly would need at least $200 for the other basic equipment excluding the enlarger...

Maybe I just stick to MF or better still don't do it at all lah.. haha...

Anyway do post images of your toilet to darkroom conversion process, would love to see some photos of the transformation!

Patryk · 25th April 2006

Okay some pics...

Here's how the toilet looks like altogether

The dry area

Wet area

This is what happens to you when you spend about 2 hours there with not much ventilation

enivre · 25th April 2006

Oooo... how did u block up the window? Drapes?

Patryk · 25th April 2006

lol..forgot about that..i just set that up to take some photos during the day.. i use this thick curtain to cover that window at night... pretty easy to place.

Obzervr · 28th April 2006

I've been thinking of setting one up for quite some time already.. but never did pick up the courage to do it...

20th April 2006	#1
Reyon Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 393	How to turn ur toilet to darkroom ? Need some advise on turning the toilet to darkroom. how to cover the windows ? how much is the safe light ?

21st April 2006	#2
enivre Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,695	Re: How to turn ur toilet to darkroom ? i think u need a rather big toilet for that right? Just the enlarger alone will need it's own table, and most toilets I know of won't be able to fit a table leh... __________________ http://www.ervinelin.com http://www.studiov.com.sg

21st April 2006	#3
Reyon Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 393	Re: How to turn ur toilet to darkroom ? no pro on the table. Already got a nice Table

21st April 2006	#4
Patryk Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 661	Re: How to turn ur toilet to darkroom ? Alright.. someone who wants to do what i've managed to figure out in my own toilet .. Ok, one big factor is the size of your toilet..and whether you can fit all the stuff you need in it. So here are the basic things you would need: 1. Enlarger 2. Table for enlarger (as small as possible to save space, but sturdy enuff to hold the enlarger) 3. Wet trays for chemicals and water as well as tongs. 4. Safe light (amber is safe enough, but most places only sell the dimmer red one which is almost safe for film development. Ruby sells a Philips red light for $15, but you may need a separate power cord with the bulb attachment, can find this at most electrical or hardware shops for a resonable price) 5. Table lamp (if you want to view your prints in normal light unless the light switch is located inside the toilet) 6. Rather thick blanket or curtains to cover up the windows. (I do my prints only at night, so when i cover up the toilet window, it is not so important to completely cover it up.. small amount of ambient can filter through some small cracks you can't fully cover up and still your prints would be unaffected. that is unless some of that light falls directly around your printing area, which in that case you need to fix that. but you must ensure that the material you are using to cover up your window is almost opaque, so that no light can filter through the material itself. Oh yeah, and make sure the lights outside the toilet are switched off, so as to prevent ambient light from coming in thru the cracks of the door) 7. Clips and hangers to hang up your prints to dry 8. Electric fan, coz it's gonna get pretty hot in there (make sure you trun it to low, and point it downwards.. you don't want too much circulation of air around your printing area which might introduce dust particles to your paper) I'm guessing you do know about the basic materials you need to make prints, such as developer, fixer, stop bath if you want, photo paper.. It is important in such a small workspace that you create some sort of a work flow.. this is especially critical when it comes to the wet portion of the printing process. Here's the basic work flow: Exposure -> Developer -> Stop Bath (water is enough) -> Fixer -> Wash (water again) There are many finer details but if were to explain it here, it would take forever..you can go on the internet to find more information or go browse around borders.. they have a good selection of darkroom books there.. Hope this helps, just ask if you have more questions.. Regards, Patrick __________________ if my camera is there at the right moment, click, all I have to do is accept it. -edouard boubat Last edited by Patryk; 21st April 2006 at 11:14 AM.

22nd April 2006	#5
enivre Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,695	Re: How to turn ur toilet to darkroom ? you forgot the sturdy lock to make sure no one enters ur toilet halfway thru ur darkroom session!! __________________ http://www.ervinelin.com http://www.studiov.com.sg

22nd April 2006	#6
jacob Deregistered Join Date: May 2005 Location: Former CS Senior Member Posts: 3,067	Re: How to turn ur toilet to darkroom ? For Health Sake Make Sure Got Ventilation.

23rd April 2006	#9
Patryk Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 661	Re: How to turn ur toilet to darkroom ? lol..that's true.. and also, must have a big sign to make sure that no one turns on the lights if the light switch is outside! haha.. i almost kenna..lucky my mom knocked on the door... __________________ if my camera is there at the right moment, click, all I have to do is accept it. -edouard boubat

25th April 2006	#15
Patryk Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 661	Re: How to turn ur toilet to darkroom ? Okay some pics... Here's how the toilet looks like altogether The dry area Wet area This is what happens to you when you spend about 2 hours there with not much ventilation __________________ if my camera is there at the right moment, click, all I have to do is accept it. -edouard boubat

28th April 2006	#18
Obzervr Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Khatib - Singapore Posts: 351	Re: How to turn ur toilet to darkroom ? I've been thinking of setting one up for quite some time already.. but never did pick up the courage to do it...