UV light source thoughts

[David Aimone]

I just came back from a palladium/platinum printing workshop. I saw your article, Sandy, and I knew about a shop that had replaced their lights with new energy efficient ones. I can get a 400watt version of the HID Luminaire that you wrote about. Any thoughts on the usefulness of the lower wattage lamp?

However, when I wote the article to which your refer one of my primary objectives was to provide an inexpensive HID alternative to a bank of UV fluorescents. The Luminaire unit that I describe in the article is inexpensive, available locally at good electrical supply stores almost anywhere in the US, and easy to set up. In this sense this type of light take less time and trouble to assemble and set up than a bank of UV fluoresents, and that was the point I tried to make in the article.

There are clearly more efficent exposure systems out there and I would be very appreciative if you would forward me further information about your UV exposure system, which I presume is based on horizontally mounted HID bulbs.

[jp498]

David, I got a 400w HID from a warehouse that was upgrading too. An electrician friend set it aside for me because he knew I liked lots of light in my garage. Then like you, I read it worked for alt-process. Works well for me doing cyanotypes and van dykes. Haven't gotten into pd/pt yet.



I've got a little $2 ebay kitchen timer for use with it. I clip it on and wear it when I'm doing other things around the house while the print is happening.

[David Aimone]

Looks great, JP! It's in the back of my car, rewired for 120V. I'll have to order a pd/pt kit from B&S now...

[mitomac]

Ha, I have the same or very similar setup in my garage! I was having trouble diffusing a hot spot and getting even illumination over 11x14 at about 20 inches from the print surface. Lining the inside of luminare with crinkled aluminum foil did the trick. It bounces and scatters the light inside the luminare and results in a much more even output on the paper.

[David Aimone]

What are your thoughts on using a device like this, installed into an enclosure for eye protection with fan for ventilation?

http://www.stoncolighting.com/stonco...pec/TB_6lt.pdf

[Vaughn]

What are your thoughts on using a device like this, installed into an enclosure for eye protection with fan for ventilation?

As long as you can get BL (or BLB) tubes for it, no reason why it would not work (tho not for carbon printing). I see no reason to fully enclose it, nor the need of a fan.

It is on the large size -- looks like you could expose a couple 16x20 prints at one time.

Vaughn

[David Aimone]

These should work!?!

http://www.elightbulbs.com/General-3...ack-Light-Bulb

As long as you can get BL (or BLB) tubes for it, no reason why it would not work (tho not for carbon printing). I see no reason to fully enclose it, nor the need of a fan.

It is on the large size -- looks like you could expose a couple 16x20 prints at one time.

Vaughn

[Vaughn]

Should work as long as they fit in to the unit, and the price seems reasonable!

Instead of enclosing the unit, perhaps just a curtain one could pull in front of it might be an easier solution.

[David Aimone]

I ordered the fixture today for $129 and 6 bulbs at $10.95 each. I'll build a simple box for it, elevated by side panels. Should work. Thanks!

[Vaughn]

Great! I think you will find that the distance from the contact printing frame to the lamps will not significantly change the exposure, so give yourself enough distance for nice even light. The tubes of the unit are a bit father apart than the dedicated UV light sources for alt printing, so being too close might give some uneven exposure.

Alt processes that create a printing-out image (such as platinum and cyanotype to name just two) improve in image quality with longer exposures (compared to very short times)...smoother tonalities. It can be subtle, but it is there.

Have fun!

Vaughn