How To Make A Home Darkroom

Developing your own film and prints is one of the many fun parts of being a photographer as well as a great way to have some quiet time expanding your photographic skills.  Having a locked door can provide you with some quiet uninterrupted time as well as help prevent film or images from being ruined from accidental light exposure.  Unfortunately, few people have access to a local darkroom, so the best alternative for developing your own prints is to create a darkroom at home.

Location, Location, Location
Sheds, garages, and extra rooms are all fine places for a darkroom.  Just bear in mind that the materials are a bit hazardous and do carry a smell, and you’re going to have a far easier time if the place you choose has access to running water.  In addition, wherever you choose, you must make sure it is completely free of light so it’s best to pick an area with no windows and can be used exclusively as your darkroom.  That’s why sheds or basements are common darkroom locations because they can be used just for that purpose and have running water and electricity.  Extra bathrooms are also good, though limited in space.

Your Darkroom Supplies
Most of what you need for your own darkroom is pretty basic and won’t cost you too much.  Excluding whatever it takes to lightproof the room you use, you can get by with the following:

• 3 Trays big enough for 8×10 paper
• 3 Sets of tongs
• Chemicals (see below)
• Enlarger and timer (see below)
• Easel
• Darkroom light

The only expensive things you need are the enlarger, which you fortunately only need to purchase once, and the chemicals, which will need to be refreshed now and again.  You can get an enlarger for around $200 and a basic timer for about $150, and they should last the life of your darkroom.

The chemicals, on the other hand, are a little more complicated.  You can get most chemicals in either powder or liquid form.  With powders you have to be careful as they can become airborne and do require mixing however they are easier to store. Liquids on the other hand, are easier to work with but are more expensive than powders and take up more storage space.

At the very least, you’ll need to invest in some sort of developer, fixer, and stop bath.  It’s a good idea to buy small quantities, or if using a powder only mix small amounts at a time, as the chemicals will go bad over time. You’ll also want to keep the chemicals in the dark in plastic biottles as glass can easily break when you’re working in the dark.  A darkroom light will help you see while working with your paper but please know that a darkroom light can still ruin undeveloped film so only develop your film in complete darkness.

Setting up Your Darkroom
Once you have the chemicals sorted and all of your supplies in order, you’re good to go.  The best darkroom layout will have a dry side and a wet side – do your cutting and enlarging on a workbench or table, then have another bench or table with your developer, stop bath, and fixer laid out and ready to go.  It’s also a good idea to have a sink at the end of this table for the final rinse – if you have extra cash they make special “always running, always full” sinks that are absolutely stellar for this purpose.  I would also highly recommend a lock for the door to prevent friends and family from accidentally ruining your work, but be sure it is easy to open from the inside in case of a fire.

Once you have all of the supplies you need, you can really set up your darkroom in any place that’s protected from light. Just find a setup that works for you and before long, you’ll be developing and printing your images and will be proud to tell your friends you did it all from the comfort of your own darkroom!And don’t forget to give some of your newly made prints to your friends as they make great framed gifts.

Tags: Basements - Bathrooms - build a darkroom - building a darkroom - Chemicals - Darkroom Supplies - Easel - Electricity - Enlarger - Garages - home darkroom - Home Location - how to build a darkroom - Light Exposure - Location Location Location - Photographer - Photographic Skills - Prints - Quiet Time - Running Water - Timer - Tongs - Uninterrupted Time