A possibility of applying 2MASS J, H, Ks, IPHAS r, i and Mega-Cam u, g photometry of red giants for determining distances to dark clouds is investigated. Red clump giants with a small admixture of G5-K1 and M2-M3 stars of the giant branch can be isolated and used in determining distances to separate clouds or spiral arms. Interstellar extinctions of background red giants can be also used for mapping dust surface density in the cloud.