Facilities

OPAC oversees two darkroom spaces in Wilder 322 and 225, on the third and second floors respectively. The second floor darkroom contains two enlargers alongside a print developing workspace. The third floor space houses seperate print and negative dark rooms. There are two enlargers in the print workspace and steel and paterson tanks are avialable for use the negitive room. To an OPAC member, these spaces are accessible anytime during Wilder building hours. Contact us if you would like more information about membership.

MEMBERSHIP CAN BE REVOKED FOR MISSUSE, THEFT OR VANDALISM OF FACILITES.

Chemicals:

cartoon hands with film The cooperative uses Illford chemicals for its print and negitive processing with the exception of D-76 which is used for negitive development. These chemicals are made avilable for OPAC members and are paid for by membership fees. OPAC will not provide other chemicals, although you may bring in you own supply.

Saftey is important around chemicals. Please be careful. OPAC posts some safety information on the walls in the dark rooms, but you should work to educate yourself as well.

Because OPAC does not have a lab technician on duty at all times, we devised a unique system to ensure that fresh chemicals are available when needed. There are two sets of chemicals in the labs.

The "working" supply, labeled as such, is in a set of quart sized bottles. Test this set to see if they are still useable and draw from them for processing if they are. Testing instructions are posted on the wall in the darkroom. When you're done return the cemicals to these same bottles. If they do not work, you pour them down the drain followed by lots of water. Note: Fixer should never be poured down the drain, put waste fixer in the empty jugs on the bottom shelves in each of the darkrooms.
You can replenish "working" supplies from the gallon "clean" supply bottles. The "clean" supply chemicals for the negative darkroom are the same as those for the print darkroom and are kept there, with the exception of D-76 negitive developer. The negitive developer is never reused and so the clean supply is also the working supply and kept in the negitive room. Never pour chemicals back into the clean supply.
Officers check the clean supply on a daily basis, so there should be no threat of running out. However, if the clean supply does get below a quarter full, contact an officer and let them know.

OPAC Rules and Responsiblities:

You must be a member of OPAC to use the facilities. You will receive a sticker for the back of you're photo ID. Your photo ID with sticker allows you to check out the keys to the two darkrooms from Wilder main desk. Only officers may take out more than one key at a time.
You must sign in and out at the main desk. Remind the attenant if they forget to hand you the book. You may not pass a key on to anyone, or let anyone, member or otherwise, come in while you are working and stay after you leave unless they have signed in and you've exchanged their I.D. for yours at the desk. Always lock the door behind you, even if you are only going to the bathroom. (Note: 322 will lock behind you but 225 needs to be locked with the key!) These restrictions are important for reducing co-op costs and problems due to theft or unintentional misuse of equipment and supplies.
Occasional guests are allowed. The the following conditions apply: sign in your guest and write "guest of (your name)" by their name. You are responsible for your guests and may not leave them in the darkrooms alone.
You may reserve a space. You may reserve up to three hours a day, at least one week in advance, by signing the blue book. Please do not reserve time if you are not certain you will show up. If someone else reserved space but has not shown up in the first ten minutes, you may take the space. Reserving space is not usually necessary and not required. Winter term tends to be the only very busy time.
Always work in a clean and safe fashion. Put chemicals and equipment in their labled place. Keep the darkrooms clean. Treat the equipment carefully, it is delicate and expensive. Do not ingest any chemicals or eat or drink in the darkrooms. More information is available on the processes page of this website.
Shut down the darkroom before you leave. Make sure to turn off everything before you leave, except for the fans. Make sure the enlargers and the timers are turned off. Put away all the chemicals and wash out anything you were using.