Darkroom Setup Tips & Process Update - Large Format Friday

Admittedly, today's video is less about large format photography than getting setup with a photographer's sacred space, a darkroom. This is more than I guided tour of my tiny working space, it's a guide for the biggest considerations when building/modifying/renting a darkroom for: film developing, alternative process, silver printing, and color processes.
00:00 Fun Intro
01:30 Do You Need a Darkroom?
02:48 How Much Space?
03:17 Access to Water
04:05 Light-Proofing
07:16 Storage
10:07 Purchasing Used Gear
10:47 Safelights
11:59 Graduates
13:03 Setting up "Zones"
14:25 Darkroom Accessories
16:59 Ventilation
18:30 RA-4 Process Update
Ilford Darkroom Locator: www.localdarkroom.com/
Midwest Photo: mpex.com/
MPEX Darkroom: mpexlearningstudio.com/mpex-d...
Photographer Stephen Takacs: stephentakacs.com/
on IG: / brownieinmotion
"The Darkroom Cookbook" by Steve Anchell: amzn.to/3alMfWj
Questions? Send me an email: [e-mail]
Content by Mat Marrash: www.matmarrash.com
#largeformat #filmphotography

[@johnsciara9418]

Fast paced and interesting. My space the floor was so uneven that there would be no way that I could seal the single door against light leaks, but my space is about 9 x 12, so I created a 3 foot by 3 foot light trap with two doors. walk in, turn left to the second door and then turn right to enter the space. As far as sinks goes, I'd love a stainless sink, but I made mine from plywood. Used 1x6 for the outer rim of the sink and with products that seal and waterproof the wood, it should do. I built it so I could hold water, but actually all I need is to be able to rinse it off every once and a while. I planned the dark room for three people to be able to work at the same time. Once I'm finished setting it up, I'll list it on the Ilford darkroom locator site. I hope to continue to use it more than just a passing fad if I invite others to share the darkroom. Got to be a good host.

[@gabrielsilvaz4199]

I use a black twin size fitted sheet around the door & the pillowcase that comes with the set to block out the light from underneath the door. It works extremely well and is portable so I can use it in my 4 x 5‘ closet I use for enlarging Prints it does feel small, but actually for one person working, and another person can watch it’s not too bad. Transporting the exposed paper in a paper safe or development drum to the bathroom next-door and using a fitted sheet isn’t too much of a hassle after each session the sheet can be easily stored away. I am fortunate enough to have three bathrooms in my home the master bath, a guest bathroom downstairs and one upstairs so it doesn’t interfere too much and my wife is OK with it which is a plus! Always ask for permission first😅

[@norbertsteinkamp9380]

Thanks very much for mentioning the Ilford darkroom finder! I wasn't aware of this handy tool ...

[@MatMarrash]

It's a tool I'd forgotten about for a while, but I had to update some information on there recently and thought it was worth including. Thanks Norbert!

[@jonathanhotopf1823]

Mat Marrash A great tool I found a darkroom only 5 miles from me.

[@MatMarrash]

@@jonathanhotopf1823 Wow that's great news, glad it helped!

[@B3D5X]

I did some contact prints in my apartment bathroom the other day. I was able to get away with using a cheap red led emergency triangle light from harbor freight as a safelight. It has a hook so I hung it from shower curtain rod and pointed it at the light-painted wall to reflect around the bathroom. Surprisingly worked great.

[@MatMarrash]

It's really rewarding when the DIY setups work out! Thanks for sharing Nick.

[@bcowan12]

Just to echo Wet Dog's comment about blackout cloth. I used to use a section of old blackout drapes to pull in front of my door, and it worked great. Also, AFAIK an N95 mask won't do anything to filter out chemical fumes. It is only good for particulate matter in the air.

[@iNerdier]

Correct, you need a proper respirator with an activated charcoal filter for organic solvents, the exact type will depend on the solvent and what your filter is rated for by the manufacturer.

[@MatMarrash]

Hey Bruce thanks for the clarification! My darkroom roomy Stephen also has a respirator at the darkroom space here and I plan on using this with color chemicals in open trays. Thanks again!

[@MatMarrash]

Thanks for the tips!

[@nickswisher6759]

I have a lot of “fun” darkroom memories of trying to develop 4x5 at the sinks with about 15 other people lol! Was a good experience to have. Yours looks like a really nice amount of space for just being alone in there, interesting vid!

[@MatMarrash]

Decently roomy for one and pretty much caps out at a two person max.

[@wetdogdryflyphotography]

for sealing the door, i used blackout cloth - got it at JoAnn fabrics - but there are online sources - its 54" wide and made to line curtains for closing off windows - I went around the doorway a little out from the molding with velcro tape - one side on the wall - the matching side on the cloth -(tack it one with stitches to keep it on. I have an old beach towel to put on top of the bottom of the cloth where it sets on the floor at the bottom of the door. one of those door draft blockers would work - no more work than taping the door - lasts for years - I leave it attached at the top and just swing it out of the way when in enter or exit

[@MatMarrash]

Nice tip on the blackout cloth, thanks!

[@arty2917]

Good stuff!

[@MatMarrash]

Thanks!

[@IainHC1]

Really loved it Mat. Thank you :-)

[@MatMarrash]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@IainHC1]

@@MatMarrash I did Mat. Thank you

[@plinble]

A safety tip is having eyewash water accessible. If you don't want to have this, I think a bottle of fresh spring water is better than nothing. Then there's towels and papers towels for spills.

[@iNerdier]

9:30 I'd love an episode on black and white reversal process.

[@MatMarrash]

You got it! *adds to the list*

[@markquiram9012]

Awesome video. I am looking at setting up a new darkroom when I move and I don’t want to be a space hog. I am spoiled in that I have a large space with two enlargers now and am looking at how to set up my new and more efficient and compact space. Great ideas!

[@MatMarrash]

Thanks for checking this out Mark and very cool that you're planning out a new space!

[@danielesteban4590]

Great video and very informative! Following on a thread you mentioned here.... you consider making one about enlarger options to print 8x10 from 4x5 negs? What brands/models, capabilities, what to watch for, etc? Maybe even covering options for color?

[@MatMarrash]

Thanks for the suggestion Daniel! Enlarger options aren't that big for large format, but my #1 piece of advice is if you're buying a used kit, make sure to double-check against a PDF manual that it's coming with all the parts. Sourcing spares when few are made new can be troublesome.

[@redtreephotography4197]

Good advice. I find having some music or a podcast in the background an essential piece of darkoom kit - and a little tipple to celebrate a final print if I'm particularly happy with it. I am enjoing the channel Mat - thanks!.

[@MatMarrash]

Tunes are a must-have, thankfully this space is really close to a local event space so the music's always on loud!

[@franklinjosue4919]

You all probably dont care but does anybody know a trick to log back into an Instagram account?? I was dumb lost my account password. I love any help you can offer me.

[@stefandavion4505]

@Franklin Josue Instablaster =)

[@franklinjosue4919]

@Stefan Davion Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site thru google and im trying it out atm. Seems to take a while so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@franklinjosue4919]

@Stefan Davion it worked and I now got access to my account again. Im so happy:D Thank you so much you saved my account!

[@BurningtunaDC]

"HEY MAN!!!!! MASKS DON'T WORK!!!!........" (sorry, couldn't resist) Serious question. If even one of those glow clocks could be trouble in a darkroom how on earth does one tell when to take their film out of developer and put it in the stop bath? I've been experimenting with a hour glass thing that is attached to a platform which I stand on. Once the sand has run out of the hourglass the platform starts to rise, I know it's time to move my film from chemical to the other. I have a FR tank which is a bit like a Yankee tank. I have yet to get good results of out of it. I want to do 5x7 and maybe 8x10 tray development of my pinhole images. Love the shows sir.

[@MatMarrash]

Glow tape and GraLab timers can be as close as two feet from the film and not show any signs of fogging. *knocks on wood* never had fogging from those sources yet. That being said, you could also try a smartphone timer with audio and/or vibration when it's time to stop development. Thanks for the comment and happy shooting!

[@markfohl2167]

Great show, Mat, this coming from a guy who's had a darkroom for about 40 years. And still uses it more than twice a month! But question: how do you do LF on a 23C???? :)

[@MatMarrash]

Hey Mark! Contact sheets only with a 23C, for the big stuff I head to MPEX to use the 45V-XL!

[@williamorford6966]

You look like David Byrne from Talking Heads in the last portrait Mat.

[@MatMarrash]

Haha, thanks William, I'll take that as a compliment!

[@edmoore]

Also some dodgy advice here that ought to be corrected: N95 masks are only for particulates and some aerosols. They will do exactly zero to block any chemical vapours from coming through that are in the air of your darkroom. So unless you're sanding fibre-board between prints or something, they will be useless in the darkroom.

[@bearbrown8816]

Do you know if Beseler condenser heads are interchangeable? I have a c700 and I’m looking at a 45mcrx but it is missing a lamp housing

[@MatMarrash]

Hey Bear! I don't believe Beseler and Omega can interchange condenser heads. Even within the Beseler lineup there are different sizes for their various models. While not the cheapest option, Beseler still has parts available for their enlargers: www.beselerphoto.com/parts/

[@bearbrown8816]

How many sheets do you develop before using fresh chemicals?

[@MatMarrash]

Since I typically run with one-shot developers, those get mixed and used fresh, while fixer goes until it fails the Hypo Check test.

[@njc2o]

Hi Mat! Would be interested in hearing your proposed minimalist setup for an apartment bathroom with no enlarger. Basically 8x10 (or smaller) contact prints. Mainly a bit confused on what light source to use, and tips on getting an exposure (other than just experimentation)

[@MatMarrash]

For contact prints, you can use as little as a piece of plexiglass, some stacked trays on a desk organizer or cart, and a < 15w lightbulb. This could be a cool feature to an upcoming darkroom livestream, thanks!

[@Brackcycle]

I've got a closet. No running water. Ever use a gravity feed system from a tank in a shelf?

[@MatMarrash]

Gravity feed works great, I'd recommend a minimum of 10L to cover longer printing sessions and rinsing out tools.

[@Brackcycle]

@@MatMarrash Good idea! By the way, loving the direct positive results. Huge progress in the prints you showed. Keep the updates coming!

[@MatMarrash]

Thanks Peter the experiments continue!

[@snax_4820]

Are all the hairdresser still closed in Colombus?

[@MatMarrash]

Many are open and taking proper safety precautions. I see what you're doing there Coronavirus!

[@vangstr]

Where can I find 8x10 enlargers?

[@MatMarrash]

That is a very, very good question. I see them pop-up on FB Marketplace a few times per year but that's about it.

[@edmoore]

What on earth is wrong with using a darkroom kettle for tea aswell!?

[@DannerPlace]

Dark room should be painted white, so a small amount of safe-light goes a long way.