wasataxman Loc: Denver via Miami

Then I discovered photoshop

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rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

I still love the darkroom. One of my numerous photo related tee shirts.

I shoot 35mm, 120, and 4x5, either film or digital.
--Bob

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billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Many of my friends died from cancer caused from darkroom work. I can do more in 30 seconds in photoshop than I could do in 5 hours in the darkroom.

wasataxman Loc: Denver via Miami

I never considered health effects. Probably because I never spent that much time doing it. But you are right early on, and I mean age 11 or 12, I was manipulating images in the dark room. Well I do enjoy the “physicality“ of the darkroom process, Not only the speed at which you can use the photoshop, but the multiple types of transformation make Photoshop the clear winner in image manipulation

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

For purposes of online sharing on this forum and most sites, you should convert your PSD work to a final output format of JPEG in the sRGB colorspace.

For more useful details about sharing digital images, consider this post: Recommended resizing parameters for digital images

JD750 Loc: SoCal

When did you make this discovery?

wasataxman Loc: Denver via Miami

I retired at 50. Got bored and went back to school for an MFA. In art school

wasataxman Loc: Denver via Miami

I thought I had pulled that out of my JPEG files. But thanks for the reminder

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Glad you were able to do that and enjoy your 2nd life. How old are you now?

wasataxman Loc: Denver via Miami

68. I am actually on career number 5

wasataxman Loc: Denver via Miami

right now just digital. I have an old Mamiya 21/4 x 31/4. Looking for a cheap scanner. When you scan that image @400dpi you get a 50+mp image. The detail clarity is surreal

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I spent many hours in the darkroom. As a professional photographer and studio owner, I ran a fully equipped colour lab and 3 black and white darkrooms- film processing and custom printing. To maximize quality and expedite production, I always prefered in-house facilities and outsourced very little of my lab work.

Of course, darkrooms harbour many health hazards but all industrial-related diseases can be avoided with strict protocols as to the handling of chemicals, mixing and preparation of chemistries, proper protective gear and good ventilation. Illness occurs when folk get sloppy and too familiar with dangerous chemicals- they dip their hands in trays and tanks, inhale harmful vapours and gasses and get flippant with what amounts to poisonous substances. They DONT READ THE WARNING LABElS AND HEED THE ADVICE!

Many of the caustic and corrosive chemicals are diluted to the point where the won't burn your skin off upon contact but the are harmful nonetheless so folks get sloppy. There are bleaching agents that can liberate poisonous gasses if mixed with acids- it ain't exactly the gas chamber but the are indeed harmful. Selenium toner smell like ammoniated detergent but it can diffuse through your skin, enter your bloodstream and cause serious illness.

So...simply stated- this is why there are tongs, gloves, protective clothing, masks and exhaust fans. The powdered chemical can become airborne and inhaled so respirator type masks are used during mixing large qualities of stock solutions. Surgical gloves are used during all mixing procedures and handling of films and prints in chemicals. Adequate ventilation is supplied to all darkroom and mixing areas. Cleanliness is always maintained. Many chemicals cause contact dermatitis- that's good because it teaches folks to protect themselves. It's prolonged and constant exposure that causes cancer and other serious health ramifications.

I often hear folks pining for the "smell" of Dektol or Hypo- Gotta say, that is just plain dumb!

I do not miss the darkroom! I can replicate any and all of the results I achieved in the darkroom and colour lab in digital production. Many of the custom printing techniques I practised on a daily bases can be easily adapted to digital post-processing and print production.

If you still want to shoot film and maintain a darkroom, just be careful! Sloppy darkroom work causes illness and stains your prints! Mask up- wash your hands! Sounds familiar (lately)?

wasataxman Loc: Denver via Miami

I just need to develop my 120 roll film. Then I will scan it. 21/4 x 31/4 at 4000 dpi gives you a 50+ mp image

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

E.L., rest assured that my darkroom techniques are akin to a surgical theatre. That was my dad's instructions to me when he taught me the basics of film and print work. I have never messed with color, and probably, unfortunately, never will. I would love to develop at least one roll of color film just to say I have. I have two Jobo processors and use them for black and white film only.

I do like the smell of fixer, though.
--Bob

wrangler5 Loc: Missouri

I learned about printing in my father's darkroom almost 70 years ago, and was a regular darkroom user myself for 30 years. I built the darkroom in our basement while my wife was still unpacking boxes after we moved in, to give a sense of my priorities. But in 2000 I rented a digital outfit, just to see what all the noise was about in the photo magazines (remember them?). Put some software on a laptop and went to one of my daughter's horse shows. Came back to the motel at the end of the day, and had 20 contact sheets ready to send to the printer in 30 minutes - something that would have taken several long nights in the darkroom, plus another night printing the contacts.

I never took another frame of film. Took the rental back on Monday and ordered a Nikon D100. I remember the darkroom work fondly, but would never do it again if I didn't have to.