Thinking of building a darkroom

[Ron Crawford]

Up until now, I have always sent my 4x5 film off to have processed and printed, but I've recently decided to build a dark room and try my hand at developing and printing my own film.
I have a small (12'X12') concrete pad in my back yard that I had planned to build a storage shed on, but never did and was wondering if that would be of sufficient size for a good workable darkroom? I suppose I could add on to the pad and make it larger if need be, but then I would have to contend with seams in the floor.
I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on this. Thanks

[lenser]

One of my previous darkrooms (up to 4x5 film with 16x20 processing) was in two thirds of my 5x10 laundry room. A bit cramped, but quite serviceable. Your space sounds like a dream come true.

[banjo]

my darkroom is in my bacment is 6'x 8' as of now has 3 beseler 23CII
in it that I use at the same time working with 3 different NEG. down one side
sink & trays down the other side my 4x5 is in the next room only it to big to
come though the DOOR
my next darkroom will be biger it will have four beseler 4x5s down one side
SO maybe 8 x 12 but I never try to dry prints in the darkroom I do that in the next room thats 12 x 12

[Graybeard]

A 12'x12' footprint will make quite a nice darkroom; I've never had one that large yet have been pleased working in the smaller darkrooms that I did have and the 7x10 foot one that I have now..

Should you build a structure on that concrete pad, be very generous with ceiling height. An eight foot ceiling will be too low, ten or twelve feet is better.

The reasoning is this: If you have your bench height at something that won't require you to stoop when working on the enlarger baseboard, the bench will probably be at 34 to 36 inches high. Add to this the height of the column on most 4x5 enlargers and allowing for the fact that the lamphouse will extend well above the column height at full enlarger elevation, you will need more than eight feet of clearance.

Good luck.

[Ron Crawford]

A 12'x12' footprint will make quite a nice darkroom; I've never had one that large yet have been pleased working in the smaller darkrooms that I did have and the 7x10 foot one that I have now..

Should you build a structure on that concrete pad, be very generous with ceiling height. An eight foot ceiling will be too low, ten or twelve feet is better.

The reasoning is this: If you have your bench height at something that won't require you to stoop when working on the enlarger baseboard, the bench will probably be at 34 to 36 inches high. Add to this the height of the column on most 4x5 enlargers and allowing for the fact that the lamphouse will extend well above the column height at full enlarger elevation, you will need more than eight feet of clearance.

Good luck.

I was wondering about that. I've got an Omega D5XL enlarger that I will be using. It is in my den right now (just storing it there) which has a 9' ceiling. Just looking at it, that looks like it might work. What do you think?

[lenser]

Nine feet would probably be sufficient for now, but if you at some point decide to go to 8x10 film, some those enlarges may need up to 12 feet for clearance unless you go to a horizontal unit. Think about planning for the future.

[Graybeard]

I was wondering about that. I've got an Omega D5XL enlarger that I will be using. It is in my den right now (just storing it there) which has a 9' ceiling. Just looking at it, that looks like it might work. What do you think?

Place the enlarger on a counter in your kitchen (this provides a useful number for a practical bench height) and crank the enlarger head up to its maximum elevation. I'd wager that the enlarger head will hit the ceiling in your kitchen before you reach its elevation limit on the enlarger column.

It is a simple thing to measure the maximum height of the enlarger with the enlarger sitting on the floor and the head cranked all the way up. Add to this the height that you require to for a comfortable bench height (after all, you want to spend a great deal of time working in your darkroom and don't want to ruin your back) and you'll have a direct measurement of the ceiling height that you will need. The nine feet that you mention may just be barely adequate.

FWIW, my Omega D5 is on a 24" bench and I have the column set in between the ceiling joists in the cellar of my old farmhouse. I find it necessary to work on my knees to focus using a grain magnifier. This is not impractical but I'd prefer to stand upright when I print. I can't quite get 16x20"s from a 4x5 (135mm lens) on the baseboard with any allowance for cropping - this is with the D5 head up against the ceiling planking in between the joists; no problem with 11x14's.

[Jim Jones]

I learned printing in a 4'x6' darkroom; too small! My next to last darkroom was 8'x12'; plenty large. The ceiling was maybe 7', so the 5x7 Elwood sat on the floor (no fun)with barely enough headroom. Ceiling height may be more important than floor space. Trays can be vertically stacked. Sinks can be covered with plywood for some tasks. Do provide plenty of outlets protected with GFCIs. There are about 10 double outlets in my present darkroom, and that's barely enough. In many climates enough power for an air conditioner and heater is needed. Running water is a luxury, not a necessity.

[ROL]

I was wondering about that. I've got an Omega D5XL enlarger that I will be using. It is in my den right now (just storing it there) which has a 9' ceiling. Just looking at it, that looks like it might work. What do you think?

Stop thinking about it and MAKE IT HAPPEN! ;)

There's just no getting around the fact that your first (also probably your last) darkroom will be rife with trial and error.

[banjo]

hey ""Nine feet would probably be sufficient""
that would have to do with how tall you are
as for me right mine is in the bacment
I set the head to the top & made my bench to
where to head be about 4" away
I have to set on a stool
BUT I am 6' tall & my darkroom 7' 3" so when
I builded my new darkroom the bace will be at 42"
my enlarger need 60 + 4" or more for room = 106"
so I would need a 9' or more
just so you know why 42 that about my elbow
so maybe 40" but thats what I would do is set my
baceboard at good comfortble height for you to work
then give some room above the top of your enlarger

[Scott Walker]

12 x 12 is plenty large enough for a workable darkroom, ceiling height is definitely an issue. If you build a 9' wall height you should be fine for most 4x5 applications. When you build use 24" centered roof Trusses, you can always cut a hole between trusses and box it in to add a couple of extra feet of clearance, if you ever have the need for more than 9' of ceiling height.

[Greg Blank]

My current darkroom is 14x14 adjacent to my office. Square works well. For the enlarger think of making a adjustable table with raising and lowering shelves in front of the enlarger for maximum size prints simply remove the shelves and print near the floor. You will need a focus extension, which can be fabricated to attach to the focus knob....I am in process of that right as of now using my newly bought TIG welder :)