darkroom window covering ...

January 17, 2006, from Lloyd Erlick,

Recently I had to cover a couple of windows
to make my darkroom. Or maybe make my room
dark.

Anyway, I placed ordinary barbecue aluminum
foil against the glass and over the edges.
Over that I hung black seamless backdrop
paper.

Lately a small noise has been driving me
crazy. My place is fairly noisy (neighbours
in the building, heating system, etc.) and I
live on a big street in a city. But this
little sound has been intermittent, small,
and unexplained. It's the unexplained part
that really frosts me.

Well, this morning I found out what it is. Of
course it is the aluminum foil on windy days.
The window is leaky enough that a wind can
disturb the foil, making that characteristic
sound.

Just a little entry in the infinite archive
of all darkroom knowledge.

regards,
--le
________________________________
Lloyd Erlick Portraits, Toronto.
voice: 416-686-0326
email:
net: www.heylloyd.com
________________________________
--

 

You may grow to like the sound and miss it
when it's gone....

 

Just go to K-mart or Wal-mart and get some heavy black fabric. Drape it
where you need it.

 

In days gone past I used to buy "darkroom (or blackout) cloth" (I think
from Calumet) that was smooth on one side and velvety on the other. It
was absolutely light-tight. I don't know if it's still available.

 

When I had a temporary darkroom, I made widow covers by cutting a
piece of foam insulating material so that it just fit into the window
opening. I taped pieces of the black plastic bag that paper comes in
to make a fringe around the perimiter. I mounted the foam with the
aluminium side out - so that the room didn't get too hot in the
summer, and it worked well.

I tried various fabric options, and never found one which was good
enough for developing and loading film, although they worked fine for
printing.

Mark

 

There are a number of blackout materials available for
window shades and curtains. I have had good results with
blackout plastic, which is cheap and easy to use. Freestyle
has it as Model# 423416 Delta Blackout Plastic. About $17
US for a 4'x 16' roll. http://www.freestyle.biz

 

January 20, 2006, from Lloyd Erlick,

Any of these suggestions would be better than
aluminum foil! Cover your window, make a
noise...

regards,
--le
________________________________
Lloyd Erlick Portraits, Toronto.
voice: 416-686-0326
email:
net: www.heylloyd.com
________________________________
--

 

Any different than the heavy PVC plastic used by landscapers ? That's
what I used when we lived in an apaprtment back in '91. Amazingly
strong stuff. I ended up using a leather sewing needle to get string
looped through it.

John

 

LOL ! I've used foil as well but my basement windows were also covered
with playwood so I couldn't hear the noise.

John