Home Darkroom Essentials with ILFORD PHOTO

In this video ILFORD Photo Marketing Manager, Matt Parry, talks about some of the equipment and home darkroom essentials that he uses to set us his temporary home darkroom.
He also talks about how easy it can be to convert a space in your home for darkroom printing.
It features a prototype of the new Intrepid Enlarger (intrepidcamera.co.uk/blog/int...) which he has been testing as well as a range of other essential kit to get you started with darkroom printing at home.

[@BNT-dl9wf]

The fact that ilford still makes tutorials for darkroom printing shows how passionate they are about their craft! Thank you guys! massive help!!

[@Ilfordphoto]

There are more coming in the next couple of weeks so please subscribe if you haven't already. Do you have a favourite paper for darkroom printing?

[@BNT-dl9wf]

@@Ilfordphoto ive subbed :) well im setting up my first darkroom this week! got myself a vivitar VI enlarger and all my gear so im stoked to begin this journey!

[@Ilfordphoto]

@@BNT-dl9wf That's so exciting. Are you having a permanent set up or converting a shed / bathroom when needed?

[@RandyPollock]

As someone that has never printed in a dark room, this was a good starter for me. Keep making these.

[@andrewwalmsleyakaphlogger.6450]

Good luck dude and if you need anything let me know. Happy to help people.

[@Ilfordphoto]

Thanks Randy. We have some more darkroom printing videos coming in the next few weeks so make sure you keep an eye out for them. DO you think you'll get to print soon?

[@RandyPollock]

@@Ilfordphoto I'm just now developing for the first time using your videos so maybe by Fall I'll try printing

[@Ilfordphoto]

@@RandyPollock That's great to hear:)

[@MrPetermc199]

Now, go make some prints!

[@josephasghar]

Perfectly achievable in a small space. You don’t need a sink. I develop in my small home office and put the prints in a holding tray before rinsing in the kitchen.

[@Ilfordphoto]

Great idea. We would love to see picture of your set up. If there any chance you could upload one to our #MyDarkroom gallery on ilfordphoto.com?

[@user-px4st3mn5n]

As someone who is adoring the dark room at school and making full advantage of it I’m really grateful that I won’t be saying goodbye to the darkroom forever after I finish school ❤❤

[@jamesandtannis]

This is a great video to get people started in their home darkroom. One thing I think is relevant is the need for some form of ventilation and disposable gloves and eyewear. Especially if people end up mixing their own chems. Thank you for an informative video and for promoting film, still the best medium in my view.

[@stephendeakin2714]

Excellent run through of a home darkroom. Nice to see the intrepid enlarger featured, the stand you use looks ideal for the job.

[@Ilfordphoto]

Thanks Stephen. We really enjoyed using the Intrepid Enlarger. It is perfect for small or temporary home darkroom set ups. Did you back their Kickstarter?

[@stephendeakin2714]

@@Ilfordphoto I've got the Heiland system, watched the Kickstarter launch and believe Intrepid have certainly got a world wide hit on there hands.

[@maurih360]

Thank you so much for this tuturial video! Thank you Ilford for keep the magic going on

[@Ilfordphoto]

You're welcome. Thank you for watching

[@jonny23rockets]

Wow! Thank you so much. Just what I needed: basic “How to do it” info! Thanks again!

[@Ilfordphoto]

Glad it was useful Terry. Please l;et us know if you get a home darkroom set up and pehaps share a picture of it in our online #MyDarkroom gallery www.ilfordphoto.com/gallery?type=9

[@joanmichel]

really enjoyed this! can't wait to get the enlarger at home! i've been printing a lot lately at school. Great job also to Matt!

[@Ilfordphoto]

Thanks Joan. It's great that you have access to a darkroom at school, but it's definitely more convenient to have one at home :)

[@mattparry6897]

Thanks Joan :) Did you back the Intrepid Enlarger kickstarter? I think you will really like it!

[@Ilfordphoto]

It's so simple to set up a home darkroom. (If Matt can do it anyone can! 😉) If you need extra inspiration then check out our online #MyDarkroom gallery www.ilfordphoto.com/gallery?type=9

[@Uwe_Ludolf]

Is it easier than putting the right link in your message? 😉 Ilford Hoto

[@Ilfordphoto]

@@Uwe_Ludolf Don't know what you mean ;)

[@andrewwalmsleyakaphlogger.6450]

Nice to see a guide like this for people,well done. Look forward to more.

[@Ilfordphoto]

Thanks Andrew - We're always telling people how easy it is to set up a darkroom at home. And once you get the bug.......

[@andrewwalmsleyakaphlogger.6450]

@@Ilfordphoto yes exactly,I use an outbuilding that is the total opposite of everything darkrooms should be. Can I post you an example to show you what I have achieved with your paper and chemicals?

[@recipetodelicious5791]

Thanks! Great video. Opening a darkroom in Lexington KY so this is very helpful!

[@robinmoodley3416]

Great. Thank you~ from South Africa

[@akaYu07]

Can't wait for Intrepid to start shipping the enlargers. Looking forward to stocking up on some more paper by then, especially some postcards.

[@Ilfordphoto]

The Portfolio POstcards are great aren't they? We'd love to see some of your prints. You can share with us on IG #ilfordphoto #MGRCPF

[@iHR4K]

Really cool video, thank you, I’m in the research step, so that was really helpful

[@busternineshoes]

I miss my darkroom. Still have a load of film cameras and negs. Maybe when my kids leave home and we don't need so many bathrooms I might make another. Pity I threw all my darkroom kit (including the enlarger) in a skip about 15 years ago. Still have an EL-Nikkor 50 f2.8 sitting in a draw, though.

[@Ilfordphoto]

Ouch! Maybe you need a shed? And kit's pretty easy to get hold of now.

[@teethbrush15]

this is brilliant! please make more videos like this

[@Ilfordphoto]

Thanks Javier - Your wish is our command. More videos on darkroom printing are on the way soon.

[@slawekdejneka7402]

Great stuff! I like what you do as lots of people think that having basic darkroom is beyond their capabilities. Toilet is ok, but kitchen at night is even better as no one wants to / must 'pop in' :-)

[@Ilfordphoto]

It's surprising how easy it can be to make a space light tight either with cardboard and tape or blackout material.

[@jonathanraven5939]

Absolutely excellent.

[@Ilfordphoto]

Thanks Jonathan. Do you have a home darkroom set up yourself?

[@vinceplatini]

Excellent! 👏👏👏

[@wolfloversummer5463]

I got some good tips from your video thank you.

[@billieblssm]

Super helpful video! Silly question: When you recommend the storage drawers for smaller spaces, would you put the regular Paterson trays *inside* the drawers, or just.... chemical straight into the drawers?

[@swanderlingh]

very usefule video. I use as darkroom my 2,5m X 2m laundry

[@Ilfordphoto]

Perfect size! If you can. We'd love it if you could share a picture of your set up to our #MyDarkroom gallery on www.ilfordphoto.com. Then others can be inspired:)

[@takenotesadv]

Super!

[@Ilfordphoto]

Thanks. Do you have a home darkroom set up yourself?

[@lethrbear32]

I miss doing this. Are the film chemicals a D-76 process? I'm considering getting back into 35mm B&W film.

[@liramarielandes7929]

what copy stand are you using to mount the enlarger on?

[@anthonycollingridge970]

Hi Ilford, great video. What safelight colour would you advise for Ilford VC paper?

[@Ilfordphoto]

Hi Anthony - Most of the common safelights for black and white printing will be fine.

[@hartzellphoto]

Great video! I am getting ready to set up a darkroom in my bathroom. I'm using Fiber-Based paper and have been using a drum roller at the darkroom I rent. I love how flat it makes my prints! I can't go back to air-dry! What do you suggest for apartments?TIA!

[@Ilfordphoto]

Sounds great! I'm very jealous. Drying flat can be an issue with FB papers. We've found people use various techniques from placing under weights to clipping prints back to back between sheets of plastic until dry. Have you seen the FB papers video? That has a few ideas in it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHyUiHSYi5KoaKs

[@hartzellphoto]

@@Ilfordphoto Thank you! I'll take a look at the video.

[@petizo8]

Are the chemicals for film development is the same for paper ?

[@celblau5336]

Como extraño mi equipo de cuarto obscuro, lo tenía todo, mi ampliadora era una Durst italiana modelo 370 si no me equivoco.

[@Ilfordphoto]

¿No podrías configurarlo de nuevo?

[@celblau5336]

@@Ilfordphoto Tengo el equipo básico de revelado, tanque, HC-110, vinagre blanco y fijador vencido, sucede que por el momento no he podido tomar fotografías con mi Nikon F4, de Ilford la FP4 es la mejor película para mí, que bueno que sigan, la mejor fotografía es la de película 24x36mm, son una gran compañía, saludos y éxito.

[@viix2328]

Inspiring video! Does anyone knows how log do the acids last once the have been opened?

[@andrewwalmsleyakaphlogger.6450]

They will tell you on the label,it's useful to make a note of this. When you get experienced you will know when it's worn out.

[@viix2328]

@@andrewwalmsleyakaphlogger.6450 Thanks 😊

[@Ilfordphoto]

There is information on the labels and there are also technical data sheets available on www.ilfordphoto.com/technical-downloads

[@rjleal]

Great video. That type of table is stable?

[@Ilfordphoto]

It depends on what enlarger you are using. This is just a simple camping table, but the intrepid enlarger is light. For a 'normal' enlarger i'd want something a little more sturdy. You also want to ensure that it's tall enough that you don't hurt your back if you are working in there for a while.

[@rjleal]

@@Ilfordphoto Thank you. I've backed on the Intrepid enlarger, your camp table solution is great for me if this type of table is stable and easy to level.

[@mattparry6897]

@@rjleal These camping tables are convenient for small darkrooms. They are sturdy enough but you need to ensure the Intrepid enlarger is stable and level whatever the surface so worth spending 10-15 mins getting everything aligned before you start printing!

[@LensEthics]

Safe light?

[@danielacresci863]

Salve, mi piacerebbe che chiariste anche come smaltire gli acidi esausti della camera oscura, che nonn possono essere gettati nello scarico perchè rifiuti speciali! Grazie

[@Ilfordphoto]

It is very dependent on local authorities. Have a look at the individual product technical data sheets and also our FAQ's www.ilfordphoto.com/faqs/ilford-photochemistry-faqs/

[@highon3d]

Sorry. Tried to undress and the brand you were saying fir the safelight. What was it again?

[@Ilfordphoto]

He mentions the Ars Imago one which is a good option. Or, if you want something bigger then Paterson do safelights too.

[@highon3d]

@@Ilfordphoto thank you. Found it.

[@andyvan5692]

great video, but can you please explain the 1+9 bit in a more indepth video, as for us that are mathmatically challanged we can't for the life of us understand what it means, or how you get 1Liter of chemistry, when, with this, all we 'see' is 1 {mL}+9 {mL}= 10, ie: ten millilitres!!, so where the hell did the other 900ml come from?? can someone "please Explain"?

[@Ilfordphoto]

Hi Andy. You're not the 1st to ask this. the 1:9 is just the ratio of chemical to water so to get your 1l. Your would mix 100ml of chemistry with 900ml of water.

[@andyvan5692]

@@Ilfordphoto thanks, this explains it, just a tip, if you give ratio's in the videos, tell us the size of the tank/trays, and the volume of chemistry you are using, as you obtain this litre from the volume you use in the tank, OR the whole sachet of chemistry you are mixing up ( like Wet Plate chemistry, the volume of the bottles you intend to fill, to develop the number of sheets you have), and from what I can research on your site, not much of this is available as a "download", or a pdf catalogue of your film types, their asa's and the MSDS's of the chemistry ( could just be a 'down' of the site)? Also, I live in Australia, so some of this is very hard to get, esp. in Large Format sheets- 4x5, and 5x7" ( most of the "labs" here only sell 35 mm and 120 roll stocks), so how does one in Australia go about ordering it, as for america, they talk about "special order" runs each year, but haven't heard anything about this for/from Australia's LF fraternity on youtube. I am also an LF beginner too, so any help with what sheet film would give more sucess to learn with ( type and asa) would be a great help (as well as some video content of developing & printing sheet film).

[@darcy7236]

How much does a set up like this cost? Roughly

[@Ilfordphoto]

Hi Darcy - This is a tough question. If you want all new kit then you can probably get everything except the enlarger for under £100. If you were happy to use pre-loved then much cheaper.

[@l10industries]

@@Ilfordphoto I think a lot of people would be surprised how many enlargers could go free to a good home. First enlarger was free with just a little road trip.

[@Ilfordphoto]

@@l10industries We agree. There are a lot out there being offered for re-homing. Although we have seen this decrease in recent years as people have re-discovered their love of darkroom printing.

[@kevlarnegative]

Can you make it as a kit to purchase?

[@Ilfordphoto]

Hi Kevin - This is something that we're looking at doing, so watch this space!

[@kevlarnegative]

@@Ilfordphoto aaaaah yeah

[@FlosBlog]

Why does your living room look like a box of 35mm FP4+? Good and informative video, thou

[@andyvan5692]

great video, but you forgot to include the Developing tanks, and other equipment related to this, as if we go to the trouble of a 'home darkroom' we want to do the whole lot, and if the "lab" does the developing, it makes more economic sence to just let them finish the job by printing and framing it, all in the one visit, as to do half of it professionally, and do the most crutial part (to the image)- the print, oneself, is to not allow for the best quality outcome.

[@Ilfordphoto]

Thanks Andy. we do have other videos on developing your first film so didn't want to repeat that info here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4G0aIKGrp2HaNk

[@andyvan5692]

@@Ilfordphoto yes, I understand, but if you did have other videos, the Point I am making is that no mention of it in the video was made, or other "links" added in the description box below the video and I am also aware of the video you made concerning the "simplicity" line of products, as an entry level to the hobby.

[@moonsofourmother2815]

I can smell the chemicals!

[@SelaphielGodsAngel]

These adverts are soul destroying before actually getting to view a video

[@Dwarvenchef]

Sound is out of

[@Ilfordphoto]

Hi, it seems okay for us - let us know if you are still having trouble.