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ME102B EZ-Darkroom
A capstone machine that automates processing and development end to end, bringing darkroom craft into a compact, safer workflow for new film shooters.
Background
As digital capture took over, community darkrooms closed and analog photography became harder to learn in a hands-on way. The EZ-Darkroom is an all-in-one film processing, development, and scanning unit aimed at modern users who do not have access to a traditional lab. It targets the real barriers to entry: total darkness, hazardous chemistry, tight timing, long learning curves, fear of ruining a whole roll, and messy spaces that do not fit apartment life.
Traditional hand processing demands working in near-blackout conditions, direct contact with chemicals, ventilation discipline, and constant attention across each stage. The project asks whether automation can preserve the craft while removing the parts that scare beginners away.
Outcomes
Our compact personal machine automates the full pipeline so loading, chemistry handling, and timing happen inside a controlled path, reducing accidental exposure, limiting skin contact with chemistry, and shrinking the manual burden while keeping results repeatable. The intent is a friendly on-ramp for first rolls without stripping away the satisfaction of working in analog.
The EZ-Darkroom sits between heritage technique and modern convenience: predictable results, smaller footprint, and an interface that welcomes newcomers yet still respects what experienced printers care about. By making home development realistic again, we hope more people stay with film without needing access to a vanishing institutional darkroom.