The document discusses the key components and requirements of a darkroom used for processing photographic film. An ideal darkroom is about 100 square feet, located away from damp areas and accessed via hatches from an adjacent imaging room. It must be completely dark to allow film processing and include safelights for loading/unloading and white lights for maintenance. Proper floors, walls, ventilation and radiation shielding are also needed. A darkroom contains manual or automatic film processors, chemicals and hangers for developing, fixing and washing photographic film.

1. -GEETASHREE MAJUMDAR
-ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
DEPARTMENT OF RADIOLOGY AND IMAGING
TECHNOLOGY
DARK ROOM

2. What is Darkroom?
Darkroom is a room from which normal light is
excluded.It is made completely dark to allow the processing
of light sensitive photographic film . Darkroom is also called
as processing room.
Ideal size of dark is 100 square feet floor space.

4. Location of Darkroom.
 Centrally located.
 Away from damp or hot area.
 Services by hatches from the adjacent image
room..

6. Hatches or passbox.
•Hatches are designed to transfer film cassette to
and from the darkroom without radiation light
entering.
•It consists of metallic structures with a lead lining to
provide x-ray shielding.
•They are typically wall mounted and include
automatic interlocks thet close one door when
another opned.
•It is also used for the temporary storage of loaded
cassettes.

8. Size
 Minimum flior area of 20sq meter.
 Ceililng height of 2.5 to 3 mtr.
 Size may be reduced depending upon the
department.

9. Radiation protection.
 Eall adjacent to the radiographic room should be
shielded with correct thickness of the lead all the
way to the ceiling.
 1.6mm lead is mostly used.

10. Floors.
 Non-porous flooring.
 Non-slippery.
 Chemical resistant.
 Stain proof.
 Light colourel .

11.  Ceramic tiles of porcelain or natural clay are the
most satisfactory.
 Ordinary linoleum and concrete are unsuitable
because they are readily attacked by the
processing solutions.

12. Walls/ceiling.
 Light in colour to reflect as much light as possible
into the working surface.
 Should be easy to wpe or clean.
 The walls should be covered with chemical-
resistant materials such as special paint, varnish,
concrete or ceramic tiles.

13. Entrance
 Single door system
 Double door system
 Maze type door entrance.
 Rotating door system.

15. Darkroom illumination.
1,SAFELIGHT:
•Minimum distance of 1.2m from the working
surface.
•Best for loading and unloading areas.
•Voltage of safelight should not exceed 25 watt.

17. 2,WHITELIGHT.
•Used for inspection and mantainance of cassette
and screens.
•Cleaning of work surface.
•Servicing of equipments.
•Changing of solutions.

18. Darkroom Equipments.
 Automatic processor.
 Mannual processor
 Processing chemicals.
 Hangers for suspending film.
 Cassette.
 Pass box
 Safe light
 White light

19. MANNUAL PROCESSING
 There are 4 tanks in processing procedure viz ;
 Developing
 Rinsing
 Fixing
 Washing
 Drying

21. Hangers.
 A film hanger is an instrument or device for
holding radiographic film during processing
procedure.

23. Cassette.
 Used to hold the x-ray film (exposed or unexposed)
and intensifying screen in close and uniform contact
with one another.
 SIZE;
 17"×14"
 15"×12"
 14"×14"
 12"×12"
 12"×10"
 12"×08"
 12"×06"(OPG).

24. Uses of cassette.
 Holds intensifying screen and protocol them from
damage.
 Exclude all light from entering the cassette and
fogging the film.
 Mantain a close and uniform contact between
screen and film.
 Exclude dust and dirt from the sensitive films.

26. DRY SIDE?
Components of dry side-
 Loading bench.
 Compartment of cassette.
 Film storage
 Film hangers

27. WET SIDE??
 The processing tanks comprise the major
equipement of the wet side of the dark room.