Are darkroom chemicals bad for the environment?

Most film chemicals are toxic and should never be poured down the drain in large quantities, like color and black and white film darkroom chemicals (especially if you have a septic tank). However, fixer has silver in it that can contaminate the environment or damage your septic tank.

Are darkroom chemicals light sensitive?

A dark space- It is the silver halides on the paper or film that are sensitive to light, not the darkroom chemicals themselves. Because the film is especially sensitive to light; you need a room that is completely dark.

What do you do with darkroom chemicals?

Color Darkroom Chemicals After you have collected enough, dispose of them properly by transporting them to the nearest hazardous waste disposal facilities to you. An alternative to disposing of chemicals used in your darkroom is to take them to a photo lab, if you can find one, and ask them to dispose of them.

What does each chemical do in the darkroom?

The three basic chemicals are (1) Developer (2) Stop Bath and (3) Fixer. Mix these with the appropriate amount of water and store them in your bottles. Photographic Paper. Photographic paper is sensitive to light and should be handled only in a darkroom with the correct safelight.

What is not allowed in darkroom?

Avoid cyanides, heavy metals, and developers containing pyrocatechol or pyrogallol when possible. Do not store chemicals on the floor. Do not eat, drink or smoke in the darkroom. The darkroom should be well ventilated. Wear appropriate protective equipment whenever possible, such as gloves, goggles, etc.

What do darkroom chemicals do?

The Three Chemicals Used in the Darkroom Very simply, you need three basic darkroom chemicals: A developer makes the pictures appear. A stopbath stops the process. The fixer rinses away the excess chemicals and “fixes” the picture in place.

Are darkroom chemicals bad for You?

Some darkroom chemicals such as toners, release toxic fumes while processing. Always make sure your darkroom is adequately ventilated and you have access to fresh air. Darkroom chemicals are irritants. If you touch them with your bare hands, some darkroom chemicals can cause contact dermatitis or you can build up an allergy to them over time.

Can you store darkroom chemicals in a closet?

If it is in a closet or similar small area, you may not have a place to put the darkroom chemicals. You should avoid storing your chemicals on the ground where they can be kicked over and spilled. Also, having them up high could cause a problem if your darkroom chemicals get jostled and fall off the shelf.

What are the different types of darkroom chemicals?

Other Darkroom Chemicals The three basic darkroom chemicals of developer, stopbath, and fixer are fundamentally all the darkroom chemicals you will need to get started developing and processing your own film and prints.

What do I need to set up my own darkroom?

You only need a few basic things to set up your own darkroom. A dark space- It is the silver halides on the paper or film that are sensitive to light, not the darkroom chemicals themselves. Because the film is especially sensitive to light; you need a room that is completely dark. It doesn’t have to be a big space, but it does have to be dark.