Do You Use a Foot Switch?

**Robert Kalman** · 20-Jul-2015, 06:14

As I contact print, I'd like to keep my hands free so that I can easily burn and dodge. Does anyone have experience using a foot switch to activate their enlarger and/or an overhead light used for contact printing?

> Can you recommend a type of foot switch and a brand name?

> Can you recommend a supplier?

Many thanks!

Robert

**bob carnie** · 20-Jul-2015, 07:28

No - actually I hate the dam things... I thought it would be a great idea but for me I move around the easel and finding the stupid thing was a real PIA. I do a lot of split filter printing
and lots of additional burns which make me surround the image so to speak... so Robert from this printers perspective a big no.

**Jim Noel** · 20-Jul-2015, 07:47

I would find it difficult to print without a foot switch. I have no idea of a source as mine is probably 30+ years old.

**Robert Kalman** · 20-Jul-2015, 07:50

Originally Posted by bob carnie

No - actually I hate the dam things... I thought it would be a great idea but for me I move around the easel and finding the stupid thing was a real PIA. I do a lot of split filter printing
and lots of additional burns which make me surround the image so to speak... so Robert from this printers perspective a big no.

Did you not like it, Bob, because all the moving around the easel made it frustrating to locate the switch with your foot?

**Bruce Barlow** · 20-Jul-2015, 07:59

The best is always what we learned first.

I learned to print from Fred Picker, who always used a foot switch. Since I have a Zone VI drydown timer, the foot switch attaches easily. I can't imagine doing with out it. Similarly, I have one on my Zone VI Compensating Developing Timer.

Don't leave home without one.

**Tony Lakin** · 20-Jul-2015, 08:08

I have footswitches connected to RH designs Stopclocks on all my enlargers a strip of luminous tape makes them easy to locate.

**mdarnton** · 20-Jul-2015, 08:14

When I printed in a lab, I always had my timer set to five seconds, and used a footswitch on a Time-o-lite timer. It makes burning real fast, because you can have both your hands in position, then start the timer, and five second increments allowed me to reset my hands regularly for different places. MY exposures were in five second increments, too. If you keep the time consistent, that allows you to learn a "look" when the appearance on the baseboard is going to give the right exposure. If you keep changing the way things look, you will never learn exposure by eye. doing it that way, it makes judging negs on the baseboard exactly the same skill as judging prints in the light.

**bigdog** · 20-Jul-2015, 08:41

Originally Posted by Robert Kalman

> Can you recommend a type of foot switch and a brand name?

> Can you recommend a supplier?

If you're using an enlarger and running through a timer, then most foot switches are proprietary to the timers. If no timer, then a simple electric switch will work for an overhead light or even an enlarger directly.
http://www.harborfreight.com/power-m...tch-96618.html

There are better quality devices than Harbor Freight (try a woodworking tool supplier), but $14 will let you see if it works for you.

**bob carnie** · 20-Jul-2015, 08:47

Yes exactly

Originally Posted by Robert Kalman

Did you not like it, Bob, because all the moving around the easel made it frustrating to locate the switch with your foot?

**Robert Kalman** · 20-Jul-2015, 08:52

Originally Posted by mdarnton

When I printed in a lab, I always had my timer set to five seconds, and used a footswitch on a Time-o-lite timer. It makes burning real fast, because you can have both your hands in position, then start the timer, and five second increments allowed me to reset my hands regularly for different places. MY exposures were in five second increments, too. If you keep the time consistent, that allows you to learn a "look" when the appearance on the baseboard is going to give the right exposure. If you keep changing the way things look, you will never learn exposure by eye. doing it that way, it makes judging negs on the baseboard exactly the same skill as judging prints in the light.

That's really helpful, Michael. Thanks!

Sorry to be following up with a dumb question, but, since I don't yet have the foot switch to test out, here goes:

I have a Time-o-lite timer, as well. There are two electrical sockets on the unit, one labeled "enlarger" and the other, "safelight." I assume the foot switch will be plugged into the "safelight" socket. Correct?