VCU Photo/Film Department Handbook

NOTE: This Handbook is a working draft

Virginia Commonwealth University 

Photography & Film Department

HANDBOOK

Spring 2013  

You are welcome to keep this Department Handbook, but when you are finished reading it please return it to the VCU Photography and Film Department Checkout. Once you have read this entire Handbook, you must sign an Agreement Sheet to be handed into your instructor.

There will always be printed copies of this Department Handbook available for reference from the VCU Photography and Film Department Checkout.   

This Department Handbook may also be referenced on the VCU Photo/Film Blog at…

http://arts.vcu.edu/photofilm/blog 

 

Table of Contents

1.  General Information

2.  Introduction

3.  Health & Safety

4.  Photography & Film Checkout Procedures

a.   Responsibility Forms

      b.   Main Office Checkout Policy
      c.   Lighting Studio Checkout Policy

d.   Equipment Checkout Policy

e.   Late Returns     

f.    Reservations

5.  Department Facility Guidelines

      a.   Darkroom

○      10 Easy Rules for a Happy Darkroom           

b.   Lighting Studio

      c.   Computer Lab

d.   Digital Print Lab

○      Papercut

      e.   Mini Computer/Scanning Lab

            ○      Imacon Flextight X5 Scanner 

      f.    Animation Studio
      g.   Lockers

      h.   PoHo Gallery

6.  Recommended Student Equipment and Supplies List

7.  ADA Compliance

1. General Information

This Handbook is a guide for the Photography and Film Department at Virginia Commonwealth University.

The Handbook covers the rules and procedures for the use of the chemistry darkroom facilities and the digital imaging facilities located on the second floor of Pollak (325 N. Harrison St.).

The information in the Handbook IS NOT a substitute for the lectures and demonstrations given by the instructors.  Each instructor is responsible for giving the students a syllabus, health and safety information, a supply list and technical and creative guidance.

Photography & Film Facility in the Pollak Building

HOURS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE, AND THOSE CHANGES WILL BE ANNOUNCED.

Darkroom:                             Open 24/7 (except Friday 10:00-Noon for maintenance)

Computer Lab:                      Open 24/7

Mini Computer/Scanning Lab    Open 24/7

*Imacon Scanning Room:     M-F   (Office Hours Only)

*Printing Room & Lighting Studio:         

                                             M-Th             8:30 pm- 10:00 pm

                                             F                   10:00 am- 4:00 pm (Office Hours)

                                             Sat&Sun       10:00 am- 3:00 pm

*Needs Reservation

***All students need to be finished for the evening and everyone must vacate the entire VCU Photo Department area 30 (thirty) minutes AFTER “Last Print” is called.  “Last Print” does not mean you still have 30 minutes to work.

The holiday, summer classes and mid-semester break schedules are variable and the hours during these times will be posted.

Important Telephone Numbers:

Faculty Office:                         (804) 828 1695

Chairman’s Office:                 (804) 828 2162

Security non-emergency:     (804) 828 1196

Security Emergency:             (804) 828 1234

2.  Introduction

To all who come to this happy place, welcome!  Please examine this handbook carefully so that you are familiar and well versed with all of the procedures relating to the various equipment, policies, procedures and proper health and safety techniques.  This is a reference guide to inform and to instruct you while you are taking photography classes and working within the VCU darkrooms. Feel free to alert the facilities coordinator if you have a problem or notice a problem within the general area.  We hope you have a very productive and rewarding semester.

The VCU Photography and Film Department, which includes both traditional and digital imaging, is an active and growing part of the college.  Our students engage in theoretical and hands-on experience in the fields of fine art, studio, and location photography, or narrative, documentary, and experimental filmmaking. They gain a strong ability to intelligently express, investigate, document or prove using photography or film, and the ability to interpret meaning in still and moving images. US News ranks VCUarts the number one public university program in multimedia.

Several programs share the facilities: the Graduate Program in Photography/Film (MFA), Kinetic Imaging (BFA & MFA), and the Summer Intensive classes.  Many people use the facilities and consequently everyone must be sensitive about keeping things clean and in good repair.  The Facilities Coordinator oversees the day-to-day operations and the GTA students (Graduate Teaching Assistants) work under the supervision of the Coordinator.  The Coordinator and the GTAs are responsible for the mixing of chemicals for darkroom printing, repairing equipment, maintaining equipment, checking items in and out from checkout and keeping track of the inventory.

Everyone who uses the facility should help in keeping the place clean, using the equipment carefully and reporting any problems to the on duty Manager.

                  FULL TIME VCU PHOTO & FILM FACULTY MEMBERS:

                    Sonali Gulati, Paul Thulin, Brian Ulrich, James Justine Reed, Jon-Phillip Sheridan 

                  PART TIME VCU PHOTO & FILM FACULTY MEMBERS: 

John Henley, Gordon Stettinius, Todd Raviotta, Michael Lease, David Stover, Stephen Salpukas, Shane Rocheleau, Hassan Pitts, Travis Fullerton, Jennida Chase, David Williams, Richard Robinson

                  VCU PHOTO & FILM ADMINISTARATIVE MEMBERS:

Sasha Waters-Freyer (Department Chair), Paul Thulin (Graduated Director), Jon-Phillip Sheridan (Administrative Director), Naoko Wowsugi (Facilities Coordinator),

To learn more about VCU’s Photography and Film Department, take a look at http://arts.vcu.edu/photofilm

Current information about the department may also be referenced on the VCU Photo/Film website at: http://arts.vcu.edu/photofilm/news or join the Department’s Facebook page (“VCU Photography and Film”).


3.  Health & Safety

Health and Safety Compliance

VCU has developed policies and practices to ensure a healthful environment and safe approach to the use of equipment, materials and processes.  It is the mutual responsibility of faculty and students to review health and safety standards relevant to each class at the beginning of each semester.  Students should be aware of general fire, health, and safety regulations posted in each area and course specific policies, practices, and precautions.  Students who have concerns related to health and safety should contact and Environmental Health and Safety Manager Dean Broga at (804) 828 6347.

This section is a basic outline of health and safety concerns for all photographic work.  All art practices have the potential to cause health problems.  It is the responsibility of the student to learn the appropriate way to handle materials and equipment to minimize any health risk.

Our main darkrooms have slotted local exhaust systems attached to processing sinks. This is the recommended method because it captures and removes most contaminates as close to the source as possible.

The Main Office has books and files with Materials Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for all the approved curricular chemicals used in the darkrooms.

Special Note:

Any student who is pregnant, has allergies, is highly sensitive to chemicals, or has other health concerns should consult a doctor about their potential risks.  Pregnant students should read Chapter 1 “Photographic Chemicals and Our Bodies” in the book Overexposure recommended at the end of this section.  Read especially pages 32-34 on the “Reproductive System and Pregnancy.”  Small children should not be in the darkrooms and NO pets are allowed in that area.

What to do if I get sick?  If you are sick consider the following:

-Limit contact with other people as much as possible.  DO NOT GO TO CLASS!  Seek medical attention at the Wellness Center, Monroe Park Campus (804) 828 8828.

-Students who are sick should self-insolate for at least 24 hours after any fever is gone.

-Make sure to get plenty of rest and drink clear fluids to keep from being dehydrated.

-Avoid normal activities including work, school, travel, shopping, social events and public gatherings.

Reporting Procedures:

-Contact the Office of Student Affairs at (804) 828 1244.  They will assist with plans for self-isolation, arranging for meals, and any other necessary support.  Contact any faculty whose class you anticipate missing and inform them of your illness.  Work with them to make arrangements for catching up on any missed work.  If you have difficulty reaching your faculty or if your illness lingers to the point where you will miss two or more of any one class contact the Office of Student Affairs.

Points to Remember:

-Be familiar with the location of fire extinguishers, eyewash fountains, first aid kits, the posted list of emergency phone numbers, and the Campus Security Office

-NEVER smoke, eat or drink in the darkroom areas.

-Radios, CD players and audible media players are not allowed in the darkrooms except while wearing headphones or an earphone.

-Lab coat or apron, neoprene gloves, eye goggles and towel are recommended as required by OSHA regulation when students use darkrooms. Advanced level photography class students may need to wear an approved respirator and/or face shield when mixing and handling toxic chemicals.  The instruction will be given by the instructors in advanced level classes.

-STOCK SOLUTIONS are more toxic than WORKING SOLUTIONS.  Stock Solutions are the form in which the product is purchased; Working Solutions are diluted for use.  Working Solutions exhaust with time, exposure to air and use.  AVOID contamination of chemicals.

-DEVELOPERS cause the most common health problems, such as skin or respiratory irritations.  Mixing developers poses the greatest risk.  Wear protective masks, gloves, and aprons.  Avoid direct contact with developer powders or solutions.  Never put your bare hands in developer.  Use rubber gloves when mixing or handling developers and use tongs when printing.

-ACETIC ACID used in most stop baths is highly irritating to skin and lungs in concentrated form, but in diluted working solution it is only slightly hazardous on skin contact.  Use rubber gloves when mixing and tongs when printing.

***Always add acid to water to avoid splashing.***

-FIXERS contain a thiosulfate fixing agent.  The main hazard from hypo or fixer solutions comes from exposure to heat or long exposures to air.  Heat can cause it to form highly toxic sulfur dioxide gas.  Kept the Fixer trays covered with Plexiglas covers when not in use.

-TONING is forbidden in Department because toners are toxic.

-In case of skin contact with irritating chemicals, wash area immediately with plenty of water.  In case of eye contact rinse eye for 15 minutes and call physician.  Get help from GTAs or someone on duty.  Wash hands with soap and water after working with photographic chemicals before eating or smoking.  Use your own towel.

-LABEL all containers with your name, date and contents.

Add this information

requiring that students label chemistry with their name /contents and will be requiring that chemistry be contained in either brown darkroom chemistry plastic bottles or the manufacturer''s containers (no more milk jugs or mason jars).

Chemical Spill Guidelines

DO NOT Attempt to Clean Up a Spill Without Assistance from VCU PHTO Faculty or Pollak Building Manager if:

• You are unsure how to proceed. 

• You feel it may be unsafe to do so. Don’t take chances and jeopardize your health and the         health of those around you. 

• You do not know the identity of the spilled material. 

• You do not have adequate or proper materials for cleanup. 

• The spill is in an area, which precludes easy access to the spilled material (i.e., on shelves with other materials). 

• You feel any physical symptoms of exposure. 

If You Cannot Clean Up the Spill For Any Of These Reasons, then: 

• Isolate the spill. Notify others of the spill. 

• Evacuate the area. Close doors if the spill occurs within the laboratory. If the spill occurs within the hallway, quickly notify personnel in nearby rooms.

• Notify VCU PHTO Faculty or Pollak Building Manager  Call from a safe location (i.e., not in the lab or room where the spill occurred).

• If someone has been splashed with the chemical, begin flushing the contaminated area immediately with water. Continue to flush the affected area for 15 minutes. Seek medical attention if a possible health concern exists. If possible, bring a Materials Safety Data Sheet or call ahead to the emergency room to facilitate prompt and correct treatment of the injury.

The Department’s Main Office has a reference shelf of books dealing with art hazards, including photography and film.  A book every photographer should have as a reference is:

Overexposure, Health Hazards in Photography, second edition by Susan Shaw and Monona Rossol, and published by Allworth Press, 1991.

With common sense and proper informed care you can work safely in photography. In each of your classes there will be discussions of these issues in depth as they apply to the processes you are using.  Instructors in advanced level photography classes will supply specific information on health and safety concerns for each class.

Guidelines regarding the use of facilities for Alternative Processes:

Students who wish to work with alternative processes chemistry for a class project that are not part of the curriculum must as their instructor’s permission.

Students who wish to do any alternative processes for a non-photography class project must ask for permission from the Photography & Film Department Administrative Director and the Chair of the department.

Students may only work with the processes that are taught and demonstrated in our facilities.

Students must follow the proper health and safety guidelines.

Toning of any kind is strictly prohibited in VCU Photography & Film facilities.

It is advised that students read the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets) for the materials that they wish to use and read Overexposure, Health Hazards in Photography before they purchase any chemicals on their own.

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4. Photography & Film Checkout Procedures http://checkout.art.vcu.edu/

1.        Main office check-out (darkroom items, film editing/animation room, Imacon scanner items)

2.        Lighting Studio check-out

3.        Equipment check-out (general equipment: photography, film, sound, tripods, etc.)

a.  Responsibility Forms

When you check out equipment online, you are agreeing to be financially responsible for all equipment that they you checked out.  Students will be held financially responsible for the exact replacement cost and fee of an identical new item if the item that have checked out is lost, stolen or damaged. The replacement cost charge will be equivalent to the current price of the new equipment.

The Department cannot be responsible for the safety of prints or personal property.

Never leave cameras, book bags, equipment (ours or yours) unattended.

b.  Main Office Check-out Policy

○       All equipment needed to process film and to print, such as tanks, reels, lenses, negative carriers, grain focusers, etc. should be used only within the department area and returned to checkout on the same day before closing.  Other equipment, such as light meters, lights, tripod, etc. is checked out on a Monday/Friday basis.  Equipment checked out on Friday should be returned by the following Monday, NO EXCEPTIONS.

○       Access to some equipment and darkroom is permitted only to students enrolled in certain advanced classes.  Contact a GTA if you have a question about the availability of certain equipment to you.

c.   Lighting Studio Check-out Policy

Lighting Studio (A-C) equipment must be checked out in the studio areas.  All items students use must be checked out by a GTA during Open Lab hours.

○       All equipment for the lighting studio should be used within the department area and/or the instructor’s permitted area.

○       All items must be returned to the checkout on the same day before closing.  NO EXCEPTIONS.

○       Access to some equipment is permitted only to students enrolled in certain advanced classes.  Contact the Facilities Coordinator or GTA if you have a question about the availability of certain equipment.

d.   Equipment Checkout Policy

Checkout is ONLY open during scheduled hours:

Tuesday 9am - 4pm (all returns are due by 12:30)
Friday     9am - 4pm (all returns are due by 12:30)

*All equipment is due by 12:30, no exceptions. See e. Late Returns for details.

Returns:

Items checked out on Tuesday are due the following Friday, and items checked out on Friday are due the following Tuesday.

Renewals:

Items can be renewed IN PERSON for one consecutive period.

e. Late Returns:

1st offense: Warning

2nd offense: 2 week suspension

3rd offense: expulsion from checkout for rest of the semester

Prior to visiting checkout, have ALL items reserved through the online checkout system.  Any item that has not been checked out will not be given to you; if you are unable to access a personal computer, use the computer lab, mini computer lab or main office. A GTA will not make the reservation for you upon entering.

All reservations must be made prior.

Students may NOT check out equipment for another student.  Once equipment is checked out under a student’s name, they are held completely liable and the equipment must be returned by said student.

NEVER drop off a piece of equipment without checking in with a GTA or Facilities Coordinator.  The item must be registered back into the system or the student is still held accountable for missing equipment.

***If a student continually neglects checking in their equipment on time, their privilege to check out equipment will be revoked at the GTA’s discretion.  This Department is a community; please be considerate and understand another student may have reserved the equipment for later that day.***

f.  Reservations

Rooms and equipment that need to be reserved in advance are:

Lighting Studios A-C, Digital Print Lab, Animation Room and all equipment located in Checkout.

If the student does not appear after 15 min of the Studio or DPL reservation time, the reservation will be taken out of the system and released to another person.

Online Reservation References:

Checkout Blog 
      http://vcucheckout.blogspot.com/

Equipment and Facility Reservation

http://checkout.art.vcu.edu/

 

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5.  Department Facility Guidelines

Scheduled classes have priority over all department facilities during their class times.  Additional students who wish to work must have permission from the instructor on duty.

The VCU darkroom and computer lab are educational facilities.  Students are not allowed to use any part of the facility for non-curriculum purposes.  Any student not associated with the program must check in as a guest prior to entering facilities.  

a.  Darkroom (Room 213)

The darkroom has a large sink for processing, timer, safelight, and ventilation.  The darkroom has 18 enlarging stations; each station is equipped with a 35mm film holder, grain focuser, easel, and contact printing glass.  Additional enlarger tools (medium and large format film holder and specific enlarger lens) are available in the Main Office Check-out.

The darkroom has film processing areas, print washing and drying areas, light table, and 3 film loading rooms.  There is a spill kit, first aid kit and eyewash located at the entrance to room 213. Please refer to “Health & Safety” (page 6).

Cabinets in the darkroom are for the Department and instructors.  Students must use their hall lockers to store personal equipment.

10 Easy Rules for a Happy Darkroom

1.  Be kind and courteous to others & their prints

2.  Always clean your workspace

3.  Before turning lights on, make sure it’s not currently being used

4.  Only students enrolled in a course are allowed in the darkroom during class time

5.  Keep eyewash area clear of clutter/chemistry (only for safety-no processing)

6.  Always turn on the ventilation fans

7.  Return equipment clean and dry to the designated cabinets

8.  Immediately report any chemical spill and malfunctioning, broken or missing equipment to your instructor and/or Facilities Coordinator

9.  Handle equipment and materials in a professional manner:

-Label and date your chemistry in a plastic container

-Keep the dry areas dry, no dripping trays or prints allowed

-Avoid chemical contamination

-Rinse and clean all trays and tongs before AND after use

10. If you are the last one out, make sure all enlargers, water, print/negative dryers, and lights are off and the doors are locked

* If a student is planning an alternative/special project, they must receive written permission from the chair when they request special access to equipment or to the facilities.  The management requires written permission from the chair of the department; it is the student’s responsibility to provide the written permission (oral permission by way of the student is not acceptable.)

** Please remember that the facility is home to more than one hundred fifty students per semester, so be considerate of the facilities and to others when working in the Department.  Working here is a privilege, not a right.  Any behavior which is deemed inappropriate will be noted and handled accordingly.

b.  Lighting Studio (209 A, B, & C)

Only Photo/Film majors who have taken or are currently taking the Studio I Class may use the studio.  The main cabinets (Studio A) store light stands, clamps, reflectors, hot lights, grids, soft boxes, umbrellas, speed rings, power packs and cords, 4 x 5 cameras, and strobe units.  Studio B’s cabinet stores light links, cables, beauty dish, and quick release plates. Also available in Studio B are the colored backdrops, C Stands, boom stand, color gels, apple boxes, and Gobo. Studio C’s cabinet is not accessible for students and should be locked at all times.  All studio equipment must be checked out by GTAs during Open Lab Hours.

Students must sign up for use of the Studio outside of class.  For studio hours, please reference Page 3 of this packet.  If you have questions about how to use a piece of equipment, please seek help in advance. The equipment in the Studio is delicate, potentially hazardous and expensive to replace.  Please take care of the Studio and its equipment and leave it cleaner and tidier than the way you found it.  Please be considerate and begin finishing all work thirty minutes prior to Last Call.

All files on the iMac computers will be deleted weekly, so please bring a flash drive or external hard drive to store your images.  GTA’s will not be held accountable for deleting any files you have not yet personally stored.

Each time the lighting studio is used, students MUST clean up after themselves. When using Studio A for a photo shoot, remember to put the tables and chairs back to their respective place.

Music is allowed, but please be respectful of other students trying to work.  No smoking is allowed in any studio at any time, regardless. 

***Lighting Studio contains a multitude of high-powered equipment. Please account for any possible fire hazards, and pay attention to any smells or suspicious indicators, including the use of fire, any flammable materials or fire alarm sensitive items.*** 

***DO NOT CHANGE OR REMOVE ANYTHING IN THE STUDIOS***

c.  Computer Lab (215)

Only current students enrolled in Digital Photography classes and current Photo/Film students may use room 215. These labs are equipped with Apple computers, up to date imaging software, one Nikon 35mm scanner, and Epson flatbed scanners.

The Computer Lab will be open 24/7, and it will maintain a “first come, first serve” policy.  The Digital Print Lab, however, has designated hours which require reservation. Computers #1-4 are designated for Digital Printing.

Students are not allowed to install any software or change the default settings on the computers without permission from the Facilities Coordinator.

d.  Digital Print Lab (215)

The Digital Print Lab has designated hours which require reservation and will operate with 2 Epson 4900 printers and 9900.  Students MUST take Paper Cut training and get an account after signing an Agreement of Use in the training session.

This facility will enable a higher degree of control over the final output of digital files and will help students to better predict and appreciate fine digital printing. The instructors of the digital classes will give out detailed instructions and guidelines for accessing this equipment.  Guidelines are as follows:

1.  The student is responsible for providing their own papers for printing and the paper must be listed on the “Approved Papers” chart.

2.  Access to the Epson 4900s are given to students taking Training in Digital Photography I and II as well as Advanced Digital Printing.

3.  Access to Epson 9900 are reserved for students taking Advanced Digital Printing, as well as majors who have previously taken this course. NO EXCEPTIONS.

4.  Epson printers have the capability of making prints ranging up to 44 inches wide by however long the roll.

5.  Students may only print on one printer at a time, so avoid overlaps during reservation.  If you can work on a smaller format printer such as the 4900s, please do so, leaving the larger printers available for someone who wants to make larger prints.

6.  Students MUST stay in the Digital Print Lab while their print is printing.

7.  All students need to be finished for the evening and everyone must vacate the entire Department area 30 minutes AFTER “Last Print” is called.

FOOD, BEVERAGES and LOITERING ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE COMPUTER LAB OR DPL!

YOU WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE IF YOU ARE DISRUPTIVE OR NOT PLANNING TO PRINT!

All files on the computers will be deleted weekly (Saturday), so please bring a flash drive or external hard drive to store your images.  GTA’s will not be held accountable for deleting any files you have not yet personally stored.

***PAPER CUT

The Department is using new software, Papercut, to manage student payment for printing.  This software gives students printing credit that will be deducted as the students make prints.  Each student who takes a training session will be given an account with log-in information.  To use Department Printers, students MUST take Papercut training.

It is forbidden to give account information to anyone, particularly a person who has not been trained.  If you are giving log-in information to another student, your printer privileges will be revoked.

The Department gives printing credit to students who take Papercut training, and the amount will change per semester. The credit is awarded to students and may not transfer to other accounts

Payment of printing fees will be noticed by VCU email.  Students must pay the amount owed to the Department via cash or check.  If the bill is not paid within two weeks of receiving notice, all printing privileges will be revoked.

e.  Mini Computer/Scanning Lab (213)

The Scanning Rooms are located in the back of the darkroom and contain a Nikon 8000, 2 Epson flatbeds, and an Imacon Flextight X5 scanner (available only after training sessions and require reservation).  Availability is first come first serve.  All scanners, except the Imacon, have 24/7 access.

The same rules of the digital lab apply to the scanning rooms; food, beverages, and loitering are not allowed.  Try and keep the film holders in an orderly fashion and shut down the computers/scanners after you have finished for the day.

***Imacon Flextight X5 Scanner is for senior level use only.  These students must be trained by the Facilities Coordinator, Instructor, or GTAs.  Open Hours include regular office hours, yet still require a reservation.  Extra film holders are available in the main office check-out.***

f.  Film Editing and Animation Room (305)

Students must have a reservation to access this room.  Students must check out Editing and Animation equipment through the Main Office.  While a scheduled class is using room 305, students are not allowed access unless permission from the instructor is granted.

***DO NOT CHANGE OR REMOVE ANYTHING IN THE EDITING ROOMS***

g.  Lockers

All Photography and Film students are given a locker.  Students must sign up in the Main Office for a locker, which will be assigned to them their entire stay at VCU.  The lockers must be vacated at the end of their final semester.  Locker combinations are kept in a file on the Main Office’s computer, but combinations should be kept conveniently located for assured access.

h.  PoHo Gallery

The PoHo Gallery, located across the darkroom and computer lab, has approximately 100 linear feet of wall space available for student exhibitions, organized by class (sophomore-senior). The Department has the necessary tools for hanging exhibits readily available.

 

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6.  Recommended Student Equipment and Supplies List

The class instructor may suggest and encourage the student to purchase and use additional equipment.  When a student decides to major in photography or film, they should plan to gradually purchase additional equipment so that by the time they graduate, they will have the professional tools to continue their creative work, and even find employment.

Students should own a 35mm or 2-1/4 format film camera with adjustable focus, f/stops (aperture) and adjustable shutter speeds and a contemporary DSLR camera with exchangeable lens possibilities.  Every student should purchase and know how to use a handheld light meter.

Students are expected to provide:

●       non mercury thermometer

●       large air blowers

●       black on black burning card & dodger

●       anti-static cloth

●       shears

●       tape

●       can opener

●       pencils, pens, markers

●       utility knives

●       loupe

●       plastic bottles for chemical storage

●       negative file pages, notebook

●       3 ring binder for negatives and contact sheets

●       photo-wipes

●       personal gray card

●       rubber gloves, apron or lab coat

●       cotton cloth towels

●       Sketch Paper (for drying prints)

Photography majors should plan to acquire:

●       stainless steel film processing tanks and reel(s)

●       cable release

●       tripod

●       lens cleaning materials

Printing materials needed:

Photo Chemistry Printing Papers

Black and White – Ilford Multi-grade Fiber Base (with green & pink label)

Digital Printing Papers

Epson Professional grade digital printing papers

The size and surface type is up to the student but the paper to be used in the DPL must be listed on the “Papers Approved for the use in the DPL” chart.  Resources for purchasing said paper include Amazon.com and B&H.

Film – Black and White

Kodak T-Max 100 36 exposure

Kodak T-Max 400 36 exposure

*DO NOT purchase black and white films labeled “Process C-41”

Black and White Film Processing Chemicals

Sprint Quicksilver film developer (1 liter size)

Kodak X-TOL film developer (5 liter size)

Kodak Indicator Stop Bath (1 pint size)

Kodak Rapid Fixer (1 liter)

Edwal Hypo Check

Heico Perma Wash (1 liter)

Kodak Photo Flo or LFN wetting solution

10 or more 1.0 liter brown plastic bottles for storing working solutions of chemistry

7.  ADA Compliance Statement

Any student who feels he or she may need accommodations based on the impact of a disability should contact his instructor privately to discuss specific needs.  Please contact the Disability Support Services at (804) 828 2253 to establish eligibility and coordinate reasonable accommodations.  For additional information please refer to…

http://www.students.vcu.edu/dss