Tacoma Photo Center is a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) community darkroom and photography space dedicated to keeping analog photography accessible through affordable lab services, classes, workshops, and public programming in Tacoma, Washington.

Over the past year, our community film lab & darkroom has grown significantly. More people than ever are shooting film, attending classes, and trusting Tacoma Photo Center with their memories and creative projects. Because of this, we have begun running into capacity issues at our film processing sink and in our darkroom.

The significant increases in community demand for our services include:

1. We serve a growing number of community members wanting to print in the color darkroom (aka RA-4). The RA-4 process must happen in total darkness, so it cannot happen in the same room as black-and-white darkroom printing, with traditional safelights.

2. We have had an increase in our community entrusting us to develop their film. We process all customer film in Paterson tanks and by hand,whether it be C41, E-6, B&W, ECN-2.

3. We have seen an increased number of community members doing hand development themselves using our space and equipment.

4. Class enrollment has gone up significantly since the first of the year and as such so has usage of our space.

In response, we have been incrementally upgrading our scanning stations. We are also implementing our first phases of automation on color film development. Our long-term goal is to acquire a C41 machine, such as a Noritsu T15 or V30. However, upon looking last year, we discovered that along with plumbing, we were also going to need to redo wiring for 220 voltage as that is the standard that most C41 machines run on. Because of this, expenses and timing increased significantly. Upgraded facilities will make community development quicker, more streamlined, and easier on volunteer staff.

We are pivoting some and have decided to do things in phases, and these phases also have significant community benefits for those that use our facilities, attend our classes and workshops. It will also help us stabilize our turnaround time on community film development orders and improve quality. So please read below about the changes we are fundraising for during this first phase.

This fundraiser specifically supports our community darkroom, DIY film developing access, and educational programming, which will continue to remain a core part of Tacoma Photo Center’s mission. The secondary purpose is to help us develop customer film.

The first phase remodel plan:

-Install a larger sink in the film processing area

-Install a double water filtration system; this will be sediment filtration and reverse osmosis under the sink. This will reduce water spots on film as it dries and help us with chemistry mixing.

-Install a tankless inline water heater. If you have processed in our lab, you know the whole building runs on one single water heater. This can make getting hot water occasionally a challenge. Thankfully, the hottest water we need is roughly 110°, so an inline heater should be able to handle it no problem.

-With the larger sink, we will be installing a second faucet/workstation so that people can double up more easily in the film processing area and so that two different types of development can happen at the same time without having to struggle over water temp. Color needs 102° and black & white prefers a cool 68°.

-During plumbing being installed in the front, we are going to have the hook-ups for a C41 machine installed and capped.

-The current film sink will be installed in the darkroom. This will make more space for larger chemical trays (we should be able to handle 16x20)

We can also permanently set up our archival washer and have space to set up a tray for fiber printing.

-Staying in the darkroom, we have decided to wall off the furthest back corner of the main darkroom. This will function as a light-tight single-station dry darkroom for RA4. Processing will still have to be done in tubes in the main darkroom or up front in the film area. This can also now double as our film rolling closet, thus cutting down on the need for us to keep dark bags around the shop, and can help with other projects, classes, workshops that need a larger light-tight space than a changing bag.

-Lastly, not to be too hand-wavy, but we will also be upgrading other areas of the shop, shelving and organization for our lighting gear, and the camera library; it's a lot of small odds and ends. Important things, but that would make this list 200 items long.

Estimated Project Costs:

-Building Supplies $3,603.00

-Labor (plumber & electrician) $3,000.00

-New workstation refresh (Darkroom), mostly sourcing the specialty parts and equipment we need. $2,897.00

Total Fundraising Goal: $9,500

Any additional funds raised beyond the initial goal will go towards technology upgrades for our scanning area and extra equipment for scanning (ie a 120 autocarrier from Filmomat) and upkeep for continued access to affordable community film processing and education at Tacoma Photo Center.

Whether you donate or simply share this fundraiser, we truly appreciate your support for community darkrooms and analog photography in Tacoma.

Thank you,

Tacoma Photo Center