I recently began doing 4x5 photography and have been renting darkroom space in order to print my negatives. I want to construct my own darkroom in an extra bathroom in my condo. Can anyone refer me to some good reading material on (1) darkroom design for small spaces and (2) enlargers. I'd much appreciate it.

-- Robb Reed (reed@nhrc.navy.mil), August 12, 1999

Answers

Check the following sites

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/pictureTaking/filmDeveloping/d kroomDsgn/dkroomDsgnContents.shtml

http://www.darkroomsource.com/build.htm

http://www.cicada.com/pub/photo/darkroom/books.html

A bathroom is quite nice to use as a darkroom. Very often, no windows to black out, running water, the trays can be set out in sequence in the bath tub etc. The limitation I have run into is that I place my trays in the bathtub which ends up limiting the maximum size enlargement you can make... ah, well

-- N Dhananjay (ndhanu@umich.edu), August 12, 1999.

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Andy's Photo Darkroom has some excellent tips for building your own.

I wrote a series of articles for Black-and-White world on how I built a commercial darkroom a couple of years ago. Part 2 has tips on selecting an enlarger.

Tuan, if you read this I want you to know I'm still planning to write that article you asked for on choosing a large format enlarger. We're shipping our documentation to press today, and I'll be on vacation next week. I promise I'll start on it as soon as I get back. No more 60-hour weeks!

-- Darron Spohn (dspohn@clicknet.com), August 13, 1999.