DIY DARKROOM SAFELIGHTS - WILL THEY WORK?

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ABOUT THIS VIDEO
Credit must go to Film love photography for sharing the idea with me.
Check out their film photography blog on this link
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DIY SAFELIGHTS?
**It's to be noted I made these safelights with stuff I had lying around. Although I've touch tested to see how much heat kicks off and the foam doesn't get hot I plan to change the bulb to a cooler running red LED bulb**
I had pondered over the idea in the past and until now my only trial and error was using a normal red fire glow light bulb hanging from
the ceiling of my darkroom… Nope. Didn't work.
But after recently mentioning on a video that I need more safelights in my darkroom I was messaged by instagrammer "Filmlovephotography" who
kindly sent me information on making your own safelights, that work, using this orange container found in Ikea!.
I would love to have tried it out, however, there is no Ikea near where I live.
It was only when I was tidying up the garden I noticed my old orange bucket which had been sitting in a corner of the garden for well over a year.
I wondered if it would work.
So I cleaned the bucket up and grabbed that original red fire glow light bulb that I made a long while back.
I put the bulb inside the bucket, screwed the bucket to the darkroom wall and made some tests.
making videos in a darkroom is not easy when it comes to lighting and if this idea works then I will be able to
provide better lighting in my darkroom for my videos. Also, it's fun to try things.
See how I got on…
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[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Please note I made these DIY lights out of stuff I had lying around purely to get more light into my darkroom for the videos I make. Although I have touch tested the foam and bucket after use and it doesn't get hot I still intend to get a cooler running Red LED Bulb soon. If you're going to make your own safe lights then make sure they are safe to use.

[@arty2917]

This gives “studio lighting” a whole new meaning!

[@MeAlexSenna]

Roger you are the MVP for a new generation of Darkroom users and Film photographers, all your work doesn’t go unnoticed. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this test and always go to the bottom of things to expose any issues to the photographers community. Greetings from NYC

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Thanks Alexandra from NYC.... What's MVP?

[@MeAlexSenna]

Most Valuable Player (In sports context)

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

@@MeAlexSenna ahh, ha ha, Thanks

[@fatherchristmas2998]

my father build a hand widscreen wiper for his lambretta wind screen he was amazing he could make any thing

[@phillipcedoz5527]

Another great video! I use RGB LEDs I got for Amazon. Left a piece of paper out for 10 minutes on their highest red brightness and the paper developed pure white. It was $20 and is very bright.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Try what I did by sensatising the paper first. You may see a different result.

[@jonjanson8021]

Another great video. You can get some transparent red plastic tube cut it to size and thread it over a four foot fluorescent tube, tape up the ends. You used to be able to get proper ones, they were called 'Encapsulite'. I don't know if they still make them. Anyways because it's a four foot ceiling light you don't get shadows over where you're working. I've got two in my darkroom, at each end where the wall hits the ceiling.. To test safe lights I put a fifty pence piece on a bit of photo paper, leave it with safe light on for about 15 mins, develop the paper and if you can see the outline of the coin the lights aren't safe.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Try sensitising first Jon. Try the same test I did.

[@joshneill7695]

"Welcome to Bee-Hive LIVE, where penny pinching is the mother of invention!" 😉 Great job Roger.. LOVE IT! 👍

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Ha ha bee live height.

[@joshneill7695]

@@ShootFilmLikeaBoss 😂

[@mangochipps0795]

Glad to see I'm not the only one who had the same idea. When I first started getting back into film I decided to DIY as much as I could and I had heaps of spare 3000K white LED bulbs on hand so I took some sandpaper to the glass, mixed some vermillion watercolor paint in pva glue and left the bulb to dry overnight. The light it produces is quite dim but your eyes adjust and I haven't had any problems with it fogging paper so far.

[@stuarts7188]

Nice work. Building my darkroom now and I'm using your ideas all over the shop.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Good Luck. Just make sure it's all safe for you. See the comment on the LED Strip... sounds funky and room saving.

[@ulicadluga]

05:56 - I reckon the bucket should be red, not orange. I used to paint my light bulbs with cherry red Zapon lacquer. Used a 25W filament bulb back then - like 40 years ago.

[@ktor538]

I appreciate you going through the trouble 👍

[@theoldfilmbloke]

Glad to see you using the large Darkroom Clock I gave you ! Keep Snapping !

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

It's great Peter!

[@clivevincent4969]

Hi Roger, enjoying your inovative darkroom ideas! If you were to paint your darkroom white you would find it would be much brighter as the neutral white would reflect the colour of the Safelight. A darkroom doesn't have to be black as long as it is light tight. Keep up the great work, keeping analogue alive!

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Thanks Clive. Good to hear from you again.

[@fatherchristmas2998]

its great to see a ordinary person talking to ordinary people

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

I've been a good boy this year so far Santa! lol, Thanks for the comment.

[@harrystevens3885]

I use a remote coloured control LED light bulb, set it in on red and dim if you want it works a treat. Nearly forgot I quite like the bucket style could you add a dimmer control.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Have you tested it Steve? I nearly got one during this video...

[@FrankWalsh]

Love your DIY spirit!

[@tlhawk63]

Good job Roger very useful information. Thank you.

[@jhenline7813]

Further to my comment on painted bulbs, I don’t know, but I think they would be better than the red, bought ones which tend to be opaque. For what it’s worth, if it will help others, it’s fine to paint your darkroom white! I have done this myself with no problems.

[@retrofocusing]

How about trying to find some LEDs which emit light in the wavelength range above the spectral sensitivity of the paper, but still below the threshold of IR? It would take some research and a few peeks into technical data sheets for the papers that you use, but it might work. For example, Kentmere VC has its spectral sensitivity cut-off point at around 550 nm, so everything above that should do no harm. In theory, you could then literally flood the room with light without the danger of fogging the paper. It could prove to be an affordable and effective solution, so I think I'll give it a try in future months. Cheers!

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Here's Borys. Interesting. Above my knowledge but it's a seed. Thanks.

[@kamaksi24]

If you scroll all the way down the link there are links to the power supplies and accessorys needed. They are pretty inexensive and simple. They are also water proof and you can even mount them outside. The water proof would be an extra bonus because of the very nature of being around chemicals.

[@benjaminseibert4212]

I set up my darkroom with those LEDs from the beginning. I used an old 4-flame lamp out of my sleeping room and only replaced the light bulbs. They even were not particularly expensive. I only didn't buy the cheapest ones. They have been working perfectly for the last 5 years and not in the least have had any negative effects on my papers.

[@jhenline7813]

When I first started printing I successfully used a rear cycle light, one of the ordinary cheap ones, but they do need batteries. Now I have a small Patterson darkroom light. Wonder if painted bulbs would work if they were low wattage? I have used acrylic paints on bulbs before. It dries quickly and is easy to use, but I think you would need two or three coats to get an even coating that obliterated the brush marks and therefore didn’t let any white light through. Thanks for making the video Roger.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

I thought of painting a bulb! Probably cheaper to buy one though.

[@beaupfeifferrecordings]

nice little experiment rodger

[@ulicadluga]

Starting to look like a Space Station or a 1960s Discotheque. 😂

[@siypic]

I did have a guide to what safelight effected what emulsion etc ..... M J Langford was the text book.

[@klofisch]

"Little bit more light in the darkroom"..... :) well that's......... lol

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Ha ha. Say that to anyone else they thing you're nuts.

[@andrethibault1410]

Awesome job Roger,Thanks for the info!,Cheers

[@slhibbs]

could you use a cheap video light with orange filters, love your videos

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

I guess you could try. It's all down to testing after.

[@carlospazbordone266]

Hi Boss! I learn and enjoy a lot wiyh your channel, thanks a lot! Just a question: Why an orange bucket and not a red one? Greetings from Peru!!!

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Orange was the only colour they had Carlos. It took a few buckets

[@nutsackstapler]

SFLAB - BUCKET LIGHT, GET YOURS TODAY FOR 3 EASY PAYMENTS OF £39.99!! BUT WAIT, THERES MORE- IF YOU ORDER WITHIN THE NEXT 30 MINUTES, WE WILL SEND YOU A FOAM BACKING TO HOLD YOUR LAMP SO YOUR DARKROOM CAN CATCH ON FIRE! Good video mate. 😂😂😂

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Ha ha trust you.

[@vicky197805]

Make some diy video of grain focuser

[@stefflus08]

I was planning to just diffuse some red LEDs. Am I missing something? Are safelights more specific? Also good to see that you flood it just for us. I have been sweating it a bit, thinking "that looks way too bright"

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

I lighten it up in the edit for the viewer. I guess try red led and make a test 😊

[@kendesantis7319]

Shoot Film Like a Boss I use these www.superbrightleds.com/moreinfo/led-household-bulbs/g11-led-bulb-5-watt-equivalent-led-globe-bulb-27-lumens/440/1478/?#writeReview I put 5 a nice my bench with no issues.

[@kendesantis7319]

I meant to say above my bench.

[@mattbechberger3298]

I have red LEDs, bounced off the white ceiling, bright with no adjustment time, and no fogging at all. In total I have 16ft of 12v red LED strips and it couldn't be better.

[@anzaeria]

Ive been considering doing pretty much the same thing - wrap some red LEDs in some sort of diffusion material. Will test as soon as I get a darkroom set up.

[@rotfai45mm]

My darkroom has a white ceiling and light walls . For my Fomabrom Variant 111 paper I have to use RED darkroom light . The paper is very sensitive , a 10x12 inch print from a 6x7 negative need only about 4 seconds at 1:8 . I have some never used Ilford orange darkroom safelights stowed away for many years . The Ilford safelight give a bright light , but you can not use it for Foma papers . If you use slow fixed grade paper you can use green or brown safelights . Can I make you happy with the Ilford safelights ? Peter .

[@guillermoperezsantos]

A humble LED strip will make the job, get an RGB strip and set it to Red.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

I just looked at those. My darkroom will look like a nightclub! ha. I suppose if it has a dimmer control that will help if it's too bright.

[@guillermoperezsantos]

@@ShootFilmLikeaBoss Some strips came with a remote control with brightnes control ;)

[@fatherchristmas2998]

i know it sounds stupid could you use night vision glasses in a darkroom or do they give out light

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

ha ha ha... I wouldn't a clue about them, only what I've seen in movies.

[@wouterkirstein1629]

Idea what would happen if you put a portable torchlight in there or even a flashlight? Then you can move it as you want! I'm so going to try that!

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

Great idea if you can seal the back. Just make tests for fog for a safe distance.

[@imjusttoodissgusted5620]

okay, i have yet another question for film developing, what is the deference between 1:1 and Stock, in developing mixing, I see the times are different so they must be different. thanks for the great channel. I should be developing my first roll this weekend.

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

It's all down to personal choice and where you want your negative to be at. Usually contrast control. More dilution will give lower contrast at the cost of a bit more grain. Depends on the developer and film. Also dilution saves you money on developer, at the cost of longer developing times. There is a ton of info online about diluting developer but some like to talk tech and math which not many folk understand, including me! I'd say keep it simple with a 1:1 dilution on your first development this weekend and when you feel adventurous in time play with other dilutions and see what you get. Good luck!

[@Arturo.H.M]

Imjusttoo Dissgusted talking about D76, ID-11,Microphen,... Stock is the chemical you get when you dilute powder in instructions water volume. 1:1 is mixing 1part of stock chemical (previous description) + 1 part of water.

[@kamaksi24]

While i reallize you used what you have available, do you know how well LED lights work. Have you considered a line of low powered diffused lights aroung the shed?

[@achimboers]

There’s an Ikea in Southampton.....??

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

There is but it wouldn't be worth travelling there just for a lunch box. You seen the price of our ferries? lol

[@achimboers]

Although, if you keep on adding buckets you might get there ... ;-) Love your videos !! Building my own darkroom (again) at the moment. Thanks for the inspiration!!

[@ShootFilmLikeaBoss]

@@achimboers good luck with the darkroom.