AmerGraph ULF-28 Xenon Printing Source

reggie · Apr 7, 2006

As I understand it, there will be options available:

1) Attenuator, this filter will fit in a cassette that covers the lamp to
reduce the light by approximately 60%.

2) UV Blocking Filter, this filter will fit in a cassette that covers the lamp
to eliminate the UV component with shorter wavelengths than 400nm.

3) Auto Vacuum module, this electronic control plugs into the
controller/integrator and will automatically turn on and off the vacuum
before and after an exposure.

4) Light Curtain, this option mounts around the top of the unit to reduce
light spillage.

Which of thesee would you recommend? Does you test unit have all these options?

Thanks.

-R

sanking · Apr 7, 2006

reggie said:
As I understand it, there will be options available:

1) Attenuator, this filter will fit in a cassette that covers the lamp to
reduce the light by approximately 60%.

2) UV Blocking Filter, this filter will fit in a cassette that covers the lamp
to eliminate the UV component with shorter wavelengths than 400nm.

3) Auto Vacuum module, this electronic control plugs into the
controller/integrator and will automatically turn on and off the vacuum
before and after an exposure.

4) Light Curtain, this option mounts around the top of the unit to reduce
light spillage.

Which of thesee would you recommend? Does you test unit have all these options?

Thanks.

-R

The unit I have has options 1, 3 and 4. The attenuator would not be useful for priting alternative processes since exposures are long and you want all the radiation you can get. The auto vacuum feature is a real convenience, but not a necessity. The light curtain is highly recommended to avoid eye exposure to UV light, but you could just use UV goggles. And some people will install the unit in an enclosed area that will contain the light, which would make the curtain not necessary.

Sandy

reggie · Apr 9, 2006

The atteunator would be useful for printing on standard graded bromide papers wouldn't it? Does the unit put out so much light that exposure times would be very short without the attenuator?

I assume this unit could not be used with variable-contrast papers in any way (no filter pack available)? If not, can the the upper unit of the ULF-28 be moved in any way so that we could use the vaccum frame and a VC light source from an enlarger?

Otherwise, how is the testing going? Anything new? Wehn do you anticipate on giving the thumbs up to AmerGraph and getting product reviews posted and published. I might suggest posting on www.mamutphoto.com also.

I have already placed an order for one of these and they will fill it pending the outcome of your evaluation.

Take care and thanks for your efforts.

-R

sanking · Apr 9, 2006

reggie said:
The atteunator would be useful for printing on standard graded bromide papers wouldn't it? Does the unit put out so much light that exposure times would be very short without the attenuator?

I assume this unit could not be used with variable-contrast papers in any way (no filter pack available)? If not, can the the upper unit of the ULF-28 be moved in any way so that we could use the vaccum frame and a VC light source from an enlarger?

Otherwise, how is the testing going? Anything new? Wehn do you anticipate on giving the thumbs up to AmerGraph and getting product reviews posted and published. I might suggest posting on www.mamutphoto.com also.

I have already placed an order for one of these and they will fill it pending the outcome of your evaluation.

Take care and thanks for your efforts.

-R

Reggie,

I am just testing the light unit, not doing consulting work for AmerGraph, so I think their decision as to when to go into production will have nothing to do with my findings. If that is the case, they have that already since I find everything about the unit very positive.

After finishing all of my testing of alterative processes I will experiment with silver papers. I believe that the attenuator by itself will not reduce the light enough even for contact printing with AZO, but it may be possible to reduce the light further with a combination of ND filters which could be placed over the attenuator.

Sandy

RobertP · May 11, 2006

Sandy, How is this unit different than their V-28 VMS 1200 watt table top unit? That lists for 2595.00

sanking · May 11, 2006

RobertP said:
Sandy, How is this unit different than their V-28 VMS 1200 watt table top unit? That lists for 2595.00

The major difference is the light source itself. The V-28 uses a metal halide lamp, the ULF-28 a Continuous Wave Xenon. The advantage of the latter is immediae re-strike capability, very useful if you need to make multiple exposures in a short perod of time. With metal halide lamps you must allow the bulb to cool for a period of time before they will strike again.

Sandy

RobertP · May 11, 2006

Sandy this must be a prototype. Amergraph specs on their V28-VMS Metal Halide 1200 watt table top imaging system makes the same claim. " Speed: Instant Start 1200 Watt Multi-Spectrum Metal Halide with patented circuitry, exposes plates and proofing materials 3 to5 times faster than comparable Mercury Vapor Units and does not require cool-down between exposeures." I was considering their V28-VMS unit until I read your post. Now I think I'll hold off and contact Amergraph and find out about this new unit.

RobertP · May 11, 2006

" between exposures".... sp

RobertP · May 12, 2006

Sandy, I just received an email from Robert Lesko of AmerGraph. He has convinced me to hold out until the production run of the ULF-28 is completed. This sounds like a great unit. Please keep us updated on your test results. He has also informed me that there will be a nice discount for apug members. They picked the right man to test the prototype. Keep up the good work. And thank you again for your contribution to ULF.

RobertP · Aug 12, 2006

Sandy, Have you composed the final test results of the ULF-28? Your preliminary tests were more than promising. Has anyone else bought and used one of these units? It would be interesting to hear more about it if they have. Thanks, Robert

sanking · Aug 12, 2006

RobertP said:
Sandy, Have you composed the final test results of the ULF-28? Your preliminary tests were more than promising. Has anyone else bought and used one of these units? It would be interesting to hear more about it if they have. Thanks, Robert

Robert,

I have completed my testing of the ULF-28 and will be placing the review in an on-line source very soon, say 10-14 days.

My understanding is that several units are currently nearing completion and will be available for sale soon. There are several options available, including one that will have a secondary low-wattage light source that will permit printing with regular silver papers. This is not an option on my unit but I recommened it to AmerGraph because IMO a dual purpose light that can print in both silver and altrnative processes should be very attractive. I think in the future more and more people making silver print will be doing all of the corrections in Photoshop and printing by contact from digital negatives.

Sandy

Scott Peters · Aug 14, 2006

Sandy, so digital negs better than film in pyro for silver contact printing? This sounds intriguing. Scott

sanking · Aug 14, 2006

Scott Peters said:
Sandy, so digital negs better than film in pyro for silver contact printing? This sounds intriguing. Scott

No, I don't want to say any way of working is better than another. However, I believe there are people who will want to print on silver papers rather than make prints directly on an inkjet, and contact printing from digital negatives is one way to do this. One could also use the ULF-28 to contact print directly from in-camera negatives, using either slow silver chloride paper like AZO, or projection type silver papers with the secondary low wattage bulb. In other words, with the proper options you could print with any process with this unit.

Of course, if you just want to print on silver there are less expensive light sources that will work fine, but bear in mind that with the ULF-28 you also get a vacuum frame and light integration.

Sandy

Scott Peters · Aug 14, 2006

Sandy, thanks. This sounds like a great unit. Since I have experimented with palladium/platinum, using the sun....this unit may work great for my azo and palladium printing 'needs' with my analog 8 x 10 and 7 x 17 negs. Plus the vacuum would be a nice addition, although my contact printing frame seems to work well now.

sanking · Aug 19, 2006

Scott Peters said:
Sandy, thanks. This sounds like a great unit. Since I have experimented with palladium/platinum, using the sun....this unit may work great for my azo and palladium printing 'needs' with my analog 8 x 10 and 7 x 17 negs. Plus the vacuum would be a nice addition, although my contact printing frame seems to work well now.

Scott,

BTW, I finished my review of the ULF-28 and the article will be up on Ed Buffaloe's unblinkingeye.com site soon, maybe tomorrow.

I highly recommend this unit. Prints with alternative processes faster by far than anything else I have used, and with options one can use it for alternative processes, contact speed silver processes like AZO, and with projection speed silver papers. And you can make prints up to 20X24" (maximum paper size is 24X28".

Sandy

escvi9 · Aug 25, 2006

In case anyone would like to know, the machine is on their website now under products. It has ordering information and prices listed.

sanking · Aug 25, 2006

escvi9 said:
In case anyone would like to know, the machine is on their website now under products. It has ordering information and prices listed.

Also, my review of the ULF-28 is now up at http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/ULF28/ulf28.html

If there are questions people have about the unit not answered in the article I would be happy to address them here.'

Sandy

ReallyBigCameras · Aug 25, 2006

escvi9 said:
It has ordering information and prices listed.

Including a nice discount for APUG members.

Kerry

RobertP · Aug 26, 2006

This confirms what the people at AmerGraph are claiming. It sounds like the cat's pajamas. Although I'm happy with the way my 26-1k performs the restart capabilities of the ULF-28 and faster print times makes it an even more attractive unit........... Now where did the little woman hide that check book?...hmmmm

donbga · Aug 26, 2006

escvi9 said:
In case anyone would like to know, the machine is on their website now under products. It has ordering information and prices listed.

Where is their web site?

ReallyBigCameras · Aug 26, 2006

donbga said:
Where is their web site?

www.amergraph.com

The ULF-28 info can be found here .

Kerry

Jeremy · Aug 26, 2006

I'm trying to figure out how much ramen i would have to eat to get one of these next year with financial aid....

sanking · Aug 26, 2006

Jeremy Moore said:
I'm trying to figure out how much ramen i would have to eat to get one of these next year with financial aid....

Think of it as a long term investment. If you are young and committed to your work in photography you might wind up using the unit for ten or more years. A large plasma television will set you back as much, and will most likely need replacing five years down the road.

Sandy

Jeremy · Aug 26, 2006

sanking said:
Think of it as a long term investment. If you are young and committed to your work in photography you might wind up using the unit for ten or more years. A large plasma television will set you back as much, and will most likely need replacing five years down the road.

Sandy, that's definitely the way I'm thinking of it, but considering that the outfit is ~2/5 my annual haul makes it very much a ponderer. That ~$3k would buy me a lot of pd to print with and paper to print on....

Now if someone out there is going to buy one of these and sell their Nu-Arc then keep me in mind

reggie · Oct 31, 2006

I've pretty decided to buy one. It is a great unit, giving me about everything I need for contact printing my 8x10 and 12x20 negatives with just about every paper out there, including my hand coated silver chloride paper!

My long term plans include buying a Class A RV and travelling the country for 5+ years. I could put the unit in the RV and print on the road.

I'll post how it goes if\when I order one. They will have to ship it cross country, so I'm a little concerned about shipping costs. They will probably eat up the APUG discount.

-R

AmerGraph ULF-28 Xenon Printing Source

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