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Thread: Keeping Time tray developing film

  1. #1

    Keeping Time tray developing film

    Hello friends

    How do folks monitor development time while in pitch black for tray developing sheet film?

    Many thanks! Happy full moon

    Alethea

  2. #2

    Re: Keeping Time tray developing film

    I have an ancient device known as a tape recorder.

    I made a 30 minute recording of myself as a speaking stopwatch ........ I just play that in the dark.

    Works very well.

  3. #3

    Re: Keeping Time tray developing film

    Any darkroom timer app on your smartphone that beaps once every minute should be good. Just make sure you hide the phone in a thick jacket or something that cuts off the light from the phone.

  4. #4

    Join Date
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    Re: Keeping Time tray developing film

    I use an old Gra-Lab timer with glow-in-the-dark hands... If the face of the timer does not face the tray or tank, and is higher or lower than the developing area, it is safe...

    If you have a LED countdown timer, if you cover the readout with a couple of layers of red film and leave it out of way on the floor or aiming away from process, that works too...

    Steve K

  5. #5
    Foamer
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    Re: Keeping Time tray developing film

    I use a glow in dark gralab timer too, pointed away from the trays. Fot 4x5 I use an SP445. Very easy and affordable. For 5x7 and 8x10 I have the new SP810 coming.
    Kent in SD
    In contento ed allegria
    Notte e di vogliam passar!

  6. #6
    Tin Can's Avatar
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    Re: Keeping Time tray developing film

    Usually Gralab out of sight of the tray

    Or if ad hoc processing without it, I silently count
    Tin Can

  7. #7
    Vaughn's Avatar
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    Re: Keeping Time tray developing film

    Gralab pointed away. I listen for the final 'click' as it stops. Somehow occasionally the buzzer is on and I almost go through the roof.
    "Landscapes exist in the material world yet soar in the realms of the spirit..." Tsung Ping, 5th Century China

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Jun 2014
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    Re: Keeping Time tray developing film

    I used to use a Durst colortim until I built a digital darkroom clock with a few useful features; beeps at 30 second intervals during countdown and and long beep at zero, among others.

  9. #9

    Re: Keeping Time tray developing film

    Quote Originally Posted by LabRat View Post
    I use an old Gra-Lab timer with glow-in-the-dark hands... If the face of the timer does not face the tray or tank, and is higher or lower than the developing area, it is safe...

    If you have a LED countdown timer, if you cover the readout with a couple of layers of red film and leave it out of way on the floor or aiming away from process, that works too...

    Steve K
    Any standard GraLab timer works. I have never had any issues with fogging or ruining a piece of film because of the glow in the dark numbers. I have used them directly in front of my initial pre wash tray for years with no problems. For me this is the best solution because some phones will override apps when you receive a notification and increase the screen brightness which even at its lowest will damage your film.

  10. #10

    Join Date
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    Re: Keeping Time tray developing film

    RH Process timer here......has red LED's, but they're well out of the way and bleep regularly at 30 seconds and minute intervals.

    Mike

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