Making a darkcloth

[Rider]

In his book "Using the View Camera," Steve Simmons has instructions how to make a dark cloth. He says:

"Buy a large piece of heavy, black cloth ... fold it over double, and sew the corners together. (page 29)

For the life of me, I could not figure out what these instructions mean. Which corners do you sew together? What is folding over "double"? How big of a cloth should I start with (for 4x5 camera)?

CAn Steve or someone else please clarify what he meant? Thanks!

[Nick_3536]

Fold it in half. Sew the corners that are loose. I think the book includes some info on the size for different formats.

[kjsphotography]

For a 4x5 camera make one at least 4 feet by 5 feet and make sure you have an industrial sewing machine to get through the material. Also good quality material will not be cheap and it will be tough to find light tight material.

[Colin Graham]

Most fabric stores have a drapery liner that is absolutely light-tight, lightweight, and white so it reflects sunlight and heat. It's about 6 bucks a yard or so. I usually line it with black linen. As for the instructions, there are many ways to fold something in half, diagonally, long and short sides; I assume he means fold in half the long way, pick two corners that are mated by the fold and sew them together? But another way to go is to measure the circumferance of your camera back and make a type of tapered 'skirt' with elastic that'll fit around the camera back and seal it up...you can also add a slit for your hands to reach through.

[Brian Sims]

If you are going to pack your camera any distance at all, make a dark cloth out of ripstop nylon. The down side is that it is lite and will blow off your camera in a wind. So, sew some pieces of velcro to the appropriate spots on the cloth. Use the self adhesive velcro to attach to your camera. I also sewed a 14 gage copper wire in the front area of the cloth in a way that allows me to form a kind of awning over the lens. This serves two purposes. It will keep mist and rain off the lens in bad weather (another advantage of rip stop is that it is waterproof). It also acts as a lens shade that I can shape based on the lens I am using and the position of the sun. I made my cloth out of two layers of black and one layer of white. The white outside layer reflect heat on sunny days. The whole thing weighs about a pound less than the heavy fabric version.

[Alan Davenport]

"Fold over double" is tech-speak for "use two layers."

I made my darkcloth with two layers of heavy black cloth (I just picked the tightest weave I could find in the fabric store) and a layer of white. The white layer goes on the outside and (theoretically) reduces heat buildup by reflecting sunlight.

I used some weird Velcro that has both parts -- hooks and loops -- together in each piece; the hooks are buried under the loopy part. Makes the stuff less likely to snag on anything it comes near. Unfortunately, it also makes it much less effective in sticking to itself. I haven't decided if I'll use it again.

[Capocheny]

I just went to an outdoor fabric store and picked up a piece of material that's heavy enough to block out the light. They folded the edges over (1/4") and sewed it together.

When it suddenly starts to rain, I can use it for protecting the camera since it's a waterproof material. If it's wet and muddy out... it can be laid down on the ground to protect my backpack from getting dirty. I usually carry a second dark cloth with me.

And, best of all... it's fairly reasonably priced. Mine cost about CDN$50.

Hope this helps. :)

Cheers

[John Hannon]

I just bought a black t-shirt and a white one (size 3X) and had them sewn together. The opening for the neck fits very well over the camera back and I can put my arms inside the sleeves like the blackjacket.

[Frank Petronio]

My wife has made me two darkclothes but (don't tell her!) I rarely use them. Most of the time I just use my shirt or a black rain jacket. I also mounted the focusing hood from a Crown Graphic to my Sinar. Using a loupe with black sides (to shield it from light) allows me to check the movements.

I think the big elaborate darkclothes get in the way and slow things down.

[Louie Powell]

A darkcloth doesn't have to be totally light-tight. My first darkcloth was a single layer of black denim. It worked just fine. I now use a commercial two-layer darkcloth - white on the outside and black on the inside. It also works just fine. Realistically, its not any better than the black denim.

Paula Chamlee makes the darkcloths that she and Michale Smith use - the one unique thing she does is sew a small piece of red ribbon in the exact middle of two opposing sides (usually the longer sides). The ribbon helps during use and also speeds up the folding process when you're done.

[MIke Sherck]

I made my focusing cloth out of two pieces of inexpensive cloth I bought from the fabric store. 4' x 5', just sewed a white piece and a black piece together (by hand!) one evening while watching something typically forgettable on TV. Then I took it outside and sprayed the white side with water proofing spray. I've used it for seven or eight years now and it works fine. In the field I fold it into sixths and use it to pad my shoulder when I'm carrying the camera attached to the tripod over my shoulder.

A focusing cloth doesn't have to be light-tight, like a camera bellows. You're just making some shade to make the ground glass easier to see (you're enhancing contrast.) There's nothing special about a focusing cloth - a dark t-shirt or sweatshirt works fine (although I get the giggles every time I see someone using one -- a photographer's ass sticking out the back, the view camera poking out the front as the head, and two teats hanging down. Sorry, just the mental image is cracking me up again... :)

Mike

[reellis67]

I've been using a towel (no joke!) and it seems fine to me. Washable, light, cheap, great for hitchhiking - never go out without your towel!

- Randy

[Leonard Evens]

A single dark T-shirt (from Lands End and made of fiarly heavy material) works fine for me. But if you combine a dark T-shirt with a white one as John suggested, you will get as much light proofing as you need, the light T-shirt will reflect sun on a hot day, and it ought to have enough ventillation to keep the gg from fogging up.

[BruceN]

Very informative thread - just saved me a bundle. I'm pretty sure I've got both black and white t-shirts lying around... ;)

Bruce

[Joseph O'Neil]

I've been using a towel (no joke!) and it seems fine to me. Washable, light, cheap, great for hitchhiking - never go out without your towel!

- Randy

Until my mother made me a nice, heavy canvas darkcloth, that is exactly what I did too. In fact, if you are travelling, and forget your dark cloth, a quick trip to the closest Wal-mart and a couple bucks later, you are all setup. If you get caugt in the rain, I find a spare towel in the car is a lifesaver too. Just remember - dry off your gear before you dry off your hair. :)

As for hitchiking, I think that one went over most people's heads. Probally because Arthur Dent never shot large format. :)

joe

[Bob Gentile]

"... As for hitchiking, I think that one went over most people's heads. Probally because Arthur Dent never shot large format..."
He would've, but he never had the right guide.

This all sounds like a lot of fuss when Calumet sells a $35 dark cloth for 4x5. By the time you go to a fabric store, buy the fabric, factor in your time...

[Amund BLix Aaeng]

Here in Norway a dark cloth isn`t really an option, so I mostly use my Harrison dark cloth as shown when it`s raining. I used it like that last night ,in rain for a 4 minute exposure. I got wet, but the camera was dry, and the photo came out good :)

[Paul-Owen]

Before you run out and make one make sure that you check out the BlackJacket focus cloths - excellent design and VERY lightweight AND waterproof too.

[David_Senesac]

When I needed to buy a dark cloth, I didn't like off the shelf products because they were too large, weighing too much, and presenting large areas that breezes might move. Did not like light coming up from below. Thought the generic way to adapt to view cameras ie velcro was probably going to require a modification on my own model. And thought they were rather pricy. So found a cheap and improved solution though everyone that sees it laughs when they see what I did.

I bought a pair of large black elastic bicycle lycra shorts for about $15. The size of the elastic waist was a bit smaller than the circumference needed to snuggly surround my view camera's back standard plus adjustment knobs. The elastic waist easily attaches snuggly around the back of my camera in a couple seconds. I view into the shorts through one of the leg holes. I chose a size larger than I could slightly stretch over my chin and forehead then closed it up a bit for use. I added a thin piece of slightly rigid flexible plastic atop to help keep the viewing hole open. The second leg hole is useful for ventilation and for reaching up through to say bring up a loupe to view the groundglass. I added a plastic tube near where my mouth rests so that on cold days I can breathe through the tube and not cause fogging. Note I prefer 3x reading glasses to loupes. At the sporting goods store, I selected the shorts that blocked the light well as the light blocking varied considerable between models. ...David

[evan clarke]

A good fabric is gabardine, a lighty and supple..it hangs nicely..EC

[Jack Flesher]

Since I carry my gear on my back, I've gone to a lightweight cloth I designed myself (and had my wife sew up for me). It is a rectangle of black cotton twill (gaberdine) about 36"x50" -- just long enough to wrap around my 8x10 camera. I have velcro along the rear that forms a peaked hood for my head and velcro at the front corners so I can stick them together wrapping it around the rear standard of my camera. I have also made weights out of steel bar stock with self-stick velcro I can add to the lower edge if it gets windy. It is more than dark enough, heavy enough to drape nicely over me and the camera, yet weighs less than a pound and takes up hardly any room in the pack. Since it is cotton it breathes well enough that I don't sweat under it in warm weather. All in all, it works great.

I also have an ultralight-weight version for my 4x5 made from the same material. This one is more like a hood of a sweatshirt in the rear, then elongated toward the front with just enough material to velcro around the rear of my 4x5. It weighs less than 1/2 pound and also works very well.

[Michael Daily]

I used a piece of black bellows material. I have replaced it with a piece of black rubberized raincoat material. In a downpour it is waterproof, folds small (6x8x1/2 inch), and is quite dark. I paid about $6/yd for a piece 60 in wide and 1 1/2 yd. long.
Michael

[Capocheny]

Here in Norway a dark cloth isn`t really an option, so I mostly use my Harrison dark cloth as shown when it`s raining. I used it like that last night ,in rain for a 4 minute exposure. I got wet, but the camera was dry, and the photo came out good :)

Hi Amund,

As long as the camera didn't get wet... that's okay?

LOL... You?... well, YOU can always dry off good as new!

[Just kidding! :)]

That's a very nice image! :)

Cheers

[reellis67]

It's all about style!

- Randy

[raucousimages]

I made my dark cloth from one layer of heavy dark cloth and a layer of the silver cloth used to cover ironing boards, available at any good fabric store. It reflects heat and is waterproof. total cost was about $12.00.

[Tony Ilardi]

I also picked a white light proof drapery liner (the same as we use in our bedroom curtains) and lined the other side with black broadcoth, with a drapery weight chain in between the layers and along the edges of all four sides. Then I cheated -- my wife sewed it for me.

[Paul Coppin]

Marked the edge centres of my commercial white/black on the white side for centering over the camera, so that I can position it quickly so that it doesn't slide off halfway through the shot setup. With my Cambos, I made up wire frames to fit the existing mount holes - they really work well if you're not having to slug the camera (and with the 4x5, I can usually wiggle it into the pack if I'm out with that camera).

If you're making your own, and doubling it up, I would recommend the one side black, one side white - the white side out is definitely cooler in the sun.

For my minimalist field kit, my DC is a length of 54" black poly gabardine from Wally-world, with a 1 foot piece of elastic puckered and zig-zag sewn along the centre of one long edge, and a couple of longish velcro tabs sewn on far enough apart that the elastic + velcro holds it nicely around the camera. Another pair of velcro tabs placed to hold it tucked up around the tripod head to keep the glare out from that light leak. Works good, cheap.

[Rafael Garcia]

Mine my wife made for me. It's 3'x6', one side black taffetta, the other side 18% (or VERY close when compared to my card) grey cotton, so I can use it for metering zone V. The taffetta is very tight and almost waterproof. The cotton clings so, with the cotton in, the cloth does not slip off. In the sun, however, I turn the grey side out and it is a lot cooler underneath.

[riooso]

I made a dark cloth from Brown Gortex which I bought on line. The inside is also a breathable material which is black. It is light and will not fog stuff up like some others that I have tried. Just got back from the tropics and it worked great. I also used it to cover my camera during water spray next to the ocean and during rain showers. This is really a good cloth. Do some research and consider it, Gortex is good stuff. I love mine.

Richard Adams

[C. D. Keth]

I see myself making myself a new dark cloth in the near future. Last winter I made one out of a white layer and a black layer of heavy cotton duck. It is waterproof and absolutely, completely light tight but it is also very heavy and takes up as much volume as the camera when it's rolled up. I suppose it'll be nice for studio stuff or for car shots, but walking far with it is not pleasant.

[Jim Jones]

Grommets in the corners of dark cloths extend usefulness. For example, two shortened rods from a disgarded tent can stretch diagonally between grommets to make a reflector or shade of the dark cloth.

[Kirk Gittings]

Its too bad men don't still wear capes. They woud serve double duty for photographers.

[jackies]

I have enjoyed reading this thread. Nice to see males so inventive.

For me I made one out of broadcloth with velcro to hold it onto the camera. Worked fine until the wind began to blow - where do you guys shoot? It is WINDY here in the heartland. At times I felt like I was going to take off. So - bought a sleeve type one. Works much better for me. The shirt and shorts sound like a great option.

And if you are traveling and forget your darkcloth don't forget to look in the overhead storage areas of the plane to borrow their light dark blanket - (it works too, in a pinch)

Jackie ;)

[jackies]

Oh Yes, to weight it down I went to the nearest Hardware store and bought some huge metal washers and sewed them to the corners. Just didn't work if the wind was over 10 mph - - - - -as it always is here

Jackie

[C. D. Keth]

I have enjoyed reading this thread. Nice to see males so inventive.

Jackie ;)

Thank you!......er.......hey!:p

[John Voss]

I've used two XXL T shirts which work well, but tend to allow the GG to fog up. My wife made me an excellent traditional one from a piece of black and a piece of white heavy cotton sewn together. The trick, she says, is to be sure to wash them both first so they are pre-shrunk and can be washed again when they need to be without any problems. I put it over my shoulder and rest the tripod on it even though the tripod has pipe insulation around the top of the legs. The darkcloth does make it a little less uncomfortable.