You can buy "CPM Delta" Black out cloth or use Trash bags or Black Cloth
with Velcro ? on both the window and the cloth.

Here is an expensive solution.  Cover your windows with a safelight
filter.  You can enjoy the view and do all your B&W work too!

Probably won't work for full streaming sunlight, but worth a look
anyway.  I had a friend who had a black and white TV in his darkroom
with some filter material over the CRT.  Never had fogging problems.

    Double-sided tape and aluminum foil. Cost you maybe $0.50/
window and is 100% light proof.

Regards,

  John S. Douglas, Photographer -  http://www.puresilver.org
             Please remove the "_" when replying via email

I use insulating panels from home construction stores. They are 4'x8' but
soft enough to be cut by a knife. I then use a hot melt glue gun to adhere
cut insulation strips to the sides that nestle on the outside the window
moulding. Friction alone holds them in (if you've measured well), and they
can be removed in seconds.

If you get the aluminum-backed variety you won't have any problems with
light getting through. The last set I made (in 1997 when we moved into our
current house) was made from greenish Celotex, and it wasn't completely
opaque to light. A few coats of white interior paint took care of that
problem, but then again my window has blinds and is located in a shaded
place.

If your windows are very large, you'll probably have to reinforce the panels
with "ribs" glued onto the outside surface.

I put up a few shapshots of my arrangement at:

http://www-schneider.viscom.ohiou.edu/inexpensive_darkroom_lightblock.htm

---
Bill Schneider

"winddancing" <winddancing@olympus.net>

I think the cheapest solution is aluminum foil and masking tape.

Myself, I have double sash plain ole house windows and
I made window covers that fit _over_ the window molding:

Masonite sheet cut to size
1x2 strips to make a frame that fits over the window
Line the frame (not the masonite) with black felt to make a friction fit
2 brads at the top of the window molding fit into holes in the inside top
 rail so the cover doesn't fall off.
Drawer pulls on the sides of the cover make it easier to put them on and off

I have been thinking of a rubylith window with a cover flap to alleviate the
pent-up
feeling.

Also thinking about adding a vent fan and/or vent baffles and cracking the
window sash open to allow fresh air through.

I think the best solution is from Weston pere et fils: live in the country;
work by starlight with the windows open and the night breeze blowing through.

--
Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio
Consulting Engineer:  Electronics; Informatics; Photonics.
Remove spaces etc. to reply: n o lindan at net com dot com
psst.. want to buy an f-stop timer? nolindan.com/da/fstop/