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Darkroom Equipment
A darkroom is an enclosed space, from which extraneous light may be excluded. In this light-tight area film can be handled without being exposed to light. It can be as small as a compact shack or as large as a well-appointed studio. For a hobbyist, the usual and convenient location is usually a basement, closet, an add-on room or even a converted bathroom.
What crams and fills up a darkroom is an assortment of darkroom equipment, or some may prefer to call them ‘darkroom aids'. The volume of the apparatus largely depends on the ‘seriousness' of its occupant.
Darkroom equipment are generally sectioned into: fans/air control, mixing/storage, safelights and accessories, sinks and accessories, water temperature control, light control, and processing accessories.
The most vital equipment in the darkroom is an enlarger. A photographic enlarger is a specialized transparency projector used to produce photographic prints from film or glass negatives. A condenser enlarger consists of a light source with reflector and a condensing lens. Color enlargers often have an adjustable filter mechanism between the light source and the negative for color control and correction. Large horizontal enlarger structures are used when high quality, enormous large format enlargements are required such as when photographs are taken from aircraft for mapping and taxation purposes.
When color prints are to be generated, all exposure and chemical processing must be done in complete darkness except for that provided by the enlarger during actual exposure of the paper.
The operator determines adjustments to brightness, contrast, clipping, and other characteristics using automated photo print machines, usually a single complex machine under operator control, or the more modern computer control.
Equipment that apparently need permanent fixture for ease are the likes of sinks and ventilation. Assisting the bigger equipment are small components but nevertheless handy such as timers, dryers, washers, dishes, focus finders, easels, dishwarmers, trimmers, print tongs, film tanks, spools and spirals.
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