i have a clamshell design for my portable darkbox as well and i solved the light leaking thru the hinge by cutting strips of the black bags that held photo printing paper and stapling them over the seam. the material is thin enough that when the clamshell is folded it still shuts tight. its also durable (so far) and absolutely light tight.
@ 5:00 It is my intention to place a really crummy thumb print on all my images just like Robert (Mouseman) Thompson, also known as 'Mousey' Thompson who was a British furniture maker and put a carved mouse on almost every piece. My signature.
It's just red plexiglass that I ordered off Amazon. It works OK if the box is indoors or in the shade, but if you get direct sun coming through that window it will fog the plates. Recently, I've just taped a piece or cardboard over it and completely blocked it up. I light the inside of the box with a portable LED lamp now.
I am getting ready to make a darkbox I am going to follow your design thanks for posting this my question is I will be shooting 8x10 plates will this be big enough for that size? thanks
I shoot 8x10 in it all the time using a Lund tank to sensitize my plates. It felt a bit crowded at first but after or session or two I managed to get a good process down and it is plenty of space, IMO.
For the box? Maybe $250. About half of that was for the curtain material. The rest was wood, fittings, the window and varnish. I used oak for the sides and a nice birch ply for top and bottom so could easily cut some cost there.
I used this but I would also say to be prepared to supplement with additional light- red LEDs or something because it can still be dark in the box if your inside a building or in some shade with that window www.amazon.com/dp/B07K9LFN67/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fab_ViVEFbT4YKYM2
I gotta hand it to you--- you pulled it off man..
a wonderful field portable dark box...
and your demo photo worked perfectly...
So good, love your style and that box looks really well made. Keep it up!
Thank you!
i have a clamshell design for my portable darkbox as well and i solved the light leaking thru the hinge by cutting strips of the black bags that held photo printing paper and stapling them over the seam. the material is thin enough that when the clamshell is folded it still shuts tight. its also durable (so far) and absolutely light tight.
So far they haven't been an issue with developing or sensitizing but I had the same thought - gaf tape, or block out fabric over them.
@ 5:00 It is my intention to place a really crummy thumb print on all my images just like Robert (Mouseman) Thompson, also known as 'Mousey' Thompson who was a British furniture maker and put a carved mouse on almost every piece. My signature.
Great job! 🔥
Thanks!
nicely done
Thanks!
Hey there! Did you use Rubylith for your window? What specific product did you use for it? Thanks!
It's just red plexiglass that I ordered off Amazon. It works OK if the box is indoors or in the shade, but if you get direct sun coming through that window it will fog the plates. Recently, I've just taped a piece or cardboard over it and completely blocked it up. I light the inside of the box with a portable LED lamp now.
@@paullender thank so much this is super helpful!
I am getting ready to make a darkbox I am going to follow your design thanks for posting this my question is I will be shooting 8x10 plates will this be big enough for that size? thanks
I shoot 8x10 in it all the time using a Lund tank to sensitize my plates. It felt a bit crowded at first but after or session or two I managed to get a good process down and it is plenty of space, IMO.
Its the curtain a tube? or cut somehow to fit box.
It is cut and sewn to fit the box, but several ways to go about it
About how much did all of the supplies cost?
For the box? Maybe $250. About half of that was for the curtain material. The rest was wood, fittings, the window and varnish. I used oak for the sides and a nice birch ply for top and bottom so could easily cut some cost there.
@@paullender I've made mine from Home Depot moving boxes so I wanted to see if I paid more than I should 😂
My first one was a cardboard box that a dorm fridge came in!
Where did you get the red filter or what should I look for?
I used this but I would also say to be prepared to supplement with additional light- red LEDs or something because it can still be dark in the box if your inside a building or in some shade with that window
www.amazon.com/dp/B07K9LFN67/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fab_ViVEFbT4YKYM2
What cutain you used? Great Box!
It's a blackout cloth from a local fabric store.