I eventually talked to my professor about how I could make my own dark room, and of course I needed all the chemicals and make sure that I had a ventilating system so the chemicals wouldn't stuck in the house but pushed out to the outside. Also getting all the equipment that is needed to develop the film.
I had searched online to get a bit more information what I need to be safe and make my photos safe from light when developing them.
This is one place that I went to get some information on what I needed to start.
THE EQUIPMENT
http://www.freestylephoto.biz/darkroom-supply-list
- Enlarger
- Depending on the enlarger you purchase, you may need to get a 35mm negative carrier and 50mm enlarging lens (with a lens board and jam nut) separately. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to call one of our friendly sales representatives for assistance.Some enlargers can handle both 35mm and medium format negatives, although you will need a different negative carrier and lens to accommodate this. There are also enlargers that can handle 4x5, medium format, and 35mm film. If you plan to print with 4x5 negatives in the future, you should purchase an enlarger that can accommodate them. Otherwise, a 35mm/medium format enlarger will suit your purposes just fine.
- Enlarger Timer
- In order to get prints which are correctly exposed, you need to control the amount of light that reaches your paper. The timer, along with the aperture on your enlarger lens, controls the exposure so that your prints are neither too light nor too dark. Timers can either be stand-alone, requiring you to turn off the enlarger manually, or they can connect to the enlarger for automatic shut-off. We recommend a timer that automatically turns the enlarger on and off.
- Easel
- The easel is used to hold the photographic printing paper while you are exposing it. The paper holders on the easel are used to correctly position the unexposed paper and hold it flat during the exposure. There are quick easels in a singe set format like 8x10 or 5x7, and there are bladed easels that allow you to choose your own format.You might also consider buying a contact printing frame, which has a Plexiglas top to hold your negatives flush on the paper for contact printing.
- Safelight
- Safelight filters come in a few different varieties. The most commonly used are OC (amber) and Red (A1). Always check the manufacturer's instruction sheet to determine the appropriate type of safelight for your particular paper.Red (1A) safelight filters are typically used for orthochromatic materials like litho film, certain liquid emulsions and some B&W photo papers. Never mix OC and red safelights in the darkroom -- even if a paper can be used with either safelight, the combination will usually cause fogging.The safelight should be positioned to provide the best illumination of the work area, but should be kept at least four feet from the photographic paper. See our How Safe is Your Safelight? article for more tips on safelight set-up.
- Printing Tongs
- These are used for moving the photographic paper through the processing solutions. You should have a set of four: one for developer, one for stop bath, one for fixer, and one for the final rinse. Label each one to avoid contaminating the chemicals.
- Processing Trays
- The trays hold the processing solutions. The first tray is for the developer, the second for the stop bath, the third is for the fixer and the fourth is for the wash. Label the trays and always use the same tray for each solution. It is a good idea to get trays at least one size larger than the paper you are using.
- Thermometer
- Use it to measure the temperature when mixing and using chemicals. Photographic thermometers are stainless steel or glass, and will not be damaged by the photographic chemicals.
- Graduates
- These are used to mix and measure the processing solutions. It is best to have a variety of sizes with at least one with markings at 1oz. or 10ml intervals. Some people have one graduate for each chemical type.
- Bottles
- These hold the mixed processing solutions. Bottles can be glass or plastic, and should be opaque brown or black. Make sure the lids are airtight. Label the bottles and always use the same bottle for each solution.
- Funnel
- This is how you get solutions back into the bottles. Don't try it without one.
- Print Squeegee
- Remove excess water from your prints after they are washed so that they'll dry faster and more evenly.
That takes care of the equipment. All you need now are:
- Processing Chemicals
- The three basic chemicals are (1) Developer (2) Stop Bath and (3) Fixer. Mix these with the appropriate amount of water and store them in your bottles.
- Photographic Paper
- Photographic paper is sensitive to light and should be handled only in a darkroom with the correct safelight. Black and white paper is exposed under an enlarger and processed in chemicals to create a final image.Later during the semester of this B&W Film Photography course, I learned that the place that we had started developing our film, was closing down after the semester. Which was a bad thing and a good thing, bad thing that it wasn't going to be there anymore to the public but they ended up donating some of the stuff to the college and then I got to pick some of the stuff up for my own benefits. I was so excited and happy that I didn't have to spend much to get things for my dark room.I got everything I needed but the photo paper. Which I bought from a local store called National Camera Exchange .
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