Event Information

Have you ever wondered what happens to your film when you send it off for processing at Camera Centre UK* or Express Imaging*?

Now you can find out with our first Darkroom Processing event in John Percival* 2.25!

Contents

• Short Information
• Risk Assessment
• Route Guide
• What To Expect
• Accessibility Links

Short Information

• We're processing Ieuan's film - in future, you bring your own
• We can only process B&W 35mm and 120 film
• The chemicals are expired and we are novices - the results aren't guaranteed to be good
• Teaching takes priority over the Darkroom space - we might be asked to shift our event
• Should take 1 hour, allocated 2 just in case
• 4 people max - sign up and tell us if you can't make it so we can re-allocate the ticket
• Dress appropriately for a laboratory environment (e.g., closed-toe footwear, tie back long hair)
• Arrive on-time
• See John Percival's First Aiders*
• Read and sign risk assessment (below)

Risk Assessment:

• You must read and sign SHARE's (the school of History, Archaeology and Religion)'s risk assessment and MSDS of proprietary solutions
• Online: Operating Procedures* under 'Safety guidelines' or here*
• In-person: behind the light switch in the Darkoom - sign this one not the online one as the online one is a local copy, contact us if you cannot
• MSDS: available soon

Route Guide:

• Enter John Percival through the main entrance (revolving doors or nearby button-powered door)
• Stairs:
  • Take the first right before the café and go up the stairs to the 2nd floor (marked by the number 2 on the opposite wall)
  • Take a short right then turn left down the corridor and about 1/4 in, on your right-hand side, there will be room 2.25
• Elevator:
  • Either walk through the café and turn left before the stairs or go straight through the courtyard
  • Not too far after the doors to the courtyard there will be an elevator on your right
  • Go to the 2nd floor and go backwards, i.e., take a left and follow the corridor and about 3/4 in, on your left-hand side, will be room 2.25
• The door requires specific keycard acccess privileges so knock to be let in

What To Expect:

• After entering the Photography Suite you will be directed to the first left-hand door to enter the Darkroom
• Inside, you will be asked to read and sign the risk assessment and MSDS of proprietary solutions
• You will be instructed to wear the provided PPE (lab coat, gloves, and goggles)
• The supervising committee member will check that the workspace is clear and all equipment is available
• The door will be locked, the bright lights switched off, and the dim red light switched on. This is because exposed film is extremely light-sensitive before it is processed
• The supervising committee member will open the film canister and wrap it around the spool before covering it to protect it from light
• The bright light is switched back on
• You will prepare the chemicals under supervision. You will have three separate solutions in three measuring beakers of developer, stop bath and fixer, in different ratios to water
• You will soak the film, one solution at a time, for varying durations while lightly shaking it
• Once developed, the film will be taken out and set to dry in the drying cabinet
• As the film dries, you will help clean up the Darkroom, putting waste chemicals in containers so that they can be safely disposed of (DO NOT POUR DOWN THE DRAIN) when full
• After the film has dried, you will be able to see the results of the processing

Accessibility Links:

• John Percival Building on the Intranet*
• John Percival Building on AccessAble*

*clickable links