Any Programmers Out There for Timer Program?

[craigclu]

I've often wished for a simple interface/simple program that would allow me to design a simple timing scenario for handling agitation routines on film developing. I'm in the habit of loading my tank and instead of standing in the darkroom for the duration of the development/agitation, I'll sit down at the computer and do my inversions while doing something else. I would like a simple timing program with a simple interface designed for quick scenario programming. For example, with a dilute developer, 15 minute routine, one could have an initial 1 minute period timed and a sound/visual indication when the minute was up. Perhaps a 45 second interval for the next inversion period out to the end of the timing, a pause and then a manual restart when the fixer is in the tank. This sort of thing is hard to do manually without good concentration on the task and it seems a simple timing program could be useful.

I've used the W-Lab program but the interface is awkward for setting the timing routines and doesn't easily lend itself to testing various routines because the timing setup is complex. Maybe someone already has something adaptable for this duty but I haven't stumbled into it. Any ideas?

 

[Photo Engineer]

Write your own in Visual Basic. It is a simple program in VB6 and works like a charm.

You can get digital readout or with some extra works you can get an analog clock.

PE

 

[bobwysiwyg]

Might this work?

http://www.tiktoktodo.com/

 

[craigclu]

Write your own in Visual Basic. It is a simple program in VB6 and works like a charm.

You can get digital readout or with some extra works you can get an analog clock.

PE

The last I messed with programming was some very elemental Pascal (you can likely guess my age from that!). After your response, I looked around for software sources and wasn't clear on what I could get by with. The Visual packages seemed like more than I needed or wanted to commit to. I'm sure my tasks would broaden and I'd think of other simple utilities to create but initially, all I wanted was something that would allow an input of initial agitation, intermittent time alarms and final, ending total time.

 

[milkplus-mesto]

The last I messed with programming was some very elemental Pascal (you can likely guess my age from that!). After your response, I looked around for software sources and wasn't clear on what I could get by with. The Visual packages seemed like more than I needed or wanted to commit to. I'm sure my tasks would broaden and I'd think of other simple utilities to create but initially, all I wanted was something that would allow an input of initial agitation, intermittent time alarms and final, ending total time.

Visual Basic Express is all you need, it's free from the Microsoft website, there's a timer element which you can set up - good luck.

 

[Photo Engineer]

The Express or the Home or Personal Edition which is free with many textbooks is also good. There is also an expanded version for between $99 and $125.

Many libraries and schools have it installed and you can use it free there.

PE

 

[Lee L]

I've been thinking about doing something similar with an Arduino http://www.arduino.cc/

You could program it to drive a speaker, LEDs, LCD readout, or combination of output devices. The development software is open source and free, as is the hardware design, and development packages are out for Win, OS-X, and unix/linux. You could make it as simple or as complex as you like.

Put a thermistor on it and have it alarm if your temps go out of range. You could even make it a temp compensating timer like the one recently discussed here on APUG. You could have it drive a relay to turn equipment off and on, the possibilities are tremendous.

I think making an Arduino photographic process timer would make a great community project.

Lee

 

[Photo Engineer]

Using a Burr Brown board with the suppled .DLL file, you can control the entire process. At EK we used this to make emulsions from tiny to huge batches. It is rather easy to turn a motor on or off and to control temperature with this board and the DLL. The program in VB is easy, but in C++ is rather formidable.

It can also collect data and construct Run-Time data for you to check for errors.

PE

 

[tim_walls]

I used to write embedded software for a living and for a hobby still design/build simple embedded processor boards. I've often tried to come up with ways of combining both hobbies (electronics + photography) but to be honest I've yet to come up with anything where a simple stopwatch wasn't a more elegant solution!

If there were some killer apps/ideas though, I'd love to try my hand...

 

[phaedrus]

There's a program on my Mac that's called FND ("film is not dead", well it isn't!) that I'm using when developing negs. It's a bit basic in that it has a fixed 30 second agitation reminder built in, but it also serves as a personal database of developers, dilutions, temperatures, times and the resulting E.I.s as they refer to the films your using.

 

[Paul Goutiere]

A friend of mine came up with a idea for processing E6 batches. Using a audio tape recorder he recorded instructions and timing beeps on the tape. It was almost perfect for just about everything. His times were very accurate apparently.

 

[Jon Shiu]

It should be possible to write a routine using a spreadsheet or database program.

Jon

 

[Lee L]

A friend of mine came up with a idea for processing E6 batches. Using a audio tape recorder he recorded instructions and timing beeps on the tape. It was almost perfect for just about everything. His times were very accurate apparently.

The same could be done with many computer recording / editing programs, many of which are free. You could burn an audio CD with multiple processes on it and choose which to play. You could manually pause the CD playback if necessary during the process. The programs to create this kind of track (mixing voice, beeps, or other audio cues) can edit to the millisecond, obviously overkill for this application.

The one I use (although not for this purpose yet) is Audacity http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ It's open source, freeware, and available for Win, OS-X, and unix/linux. All you'd need is a cheap microphone to put in voice commands if necessary. Or if you're an audiophile, you could get an expensive microphone (and perhaps produce negatives with less grain and greater resolution).

If you find yourself driving down the highway in your car one day absorbed in listening to your favorite track, "TMY-2 in Pyrocat-HD Semi-stand", you might want to seek help.

I listen to music when processing, so I'll probably stay with the Gralab timers. The advantage of audio cues is that they grab your attention in a way that a timer or clock doesn't.

Lee

 

[epatsellis]

Lee, many years ago, when I used to make complilation tapes on my Nakamichi, I made several tapes with tracks the right length, need to do that again, make a playlist for each film type and process for winamp.


erie

 

[Lee L]

Lee, many years ago, when I used to make complilation tapes on my Nakamichi, I made several tapes with tracks the right length, need to do that again, make a playlist for each film type and process for winamp.


erie

Makes sense. 15 ips at 80F and 7.5ips at 65F

Lee

 

[markbarendt]

A friend of mine came up with a idea for processing E6 batches. Using a audio tape recorder he recorded instructions and timing beeps on the tape. It was almost perfect for just about everything. His times were very accurate apparently.

This is a great idea!

Especially for a guy like me that hasn't processed in 30+ years.

 

[markbarendt]

You could burn an audio CD with multiple processes on it and choose which to play. Lee

This is another great thought. It could eliminate tons of problems like inadvertantly cross processing if you added the setup info; mixing instructions, tools needed, etc...

If you find yourself driving down the highway in your car one day absorbed in listening to your favorite track, "TMY-2 in Pyrocat-HD Semi-stand", you might want to seek help. Lee

Guess I'm going to need help. :rolleyes:

I listen to music when processing, so I'll probably stay with the Gralab timers. The advantage of audio cues is that they grab your attention in a way that a timer or clock doesn't. Lee

I don't know why both can't run at the same time.

Mark

 

[Kino]

When you run both, does that mean you are a PJ? Photo Jockey?

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

simple program ... for handling agitation routines

http://www.jan-exner.de/software/fototimer.html

 

[Photo Engineer]

Jobo makes (made) two timers for processing. One comes with 7 or so built-in processes and space for 7 more to be manually programmed. It has a digital readout.

The other is completely programmable with 4 dials on the side for 4 steps. It too has an LED display.

They are currently going for peanuts when available.

PE

 

[RobC]

here's one

http://www.visualperception.net/timer/

problem is that flash is not very good at accurate timing. Its microseconds are not microseconds. So depending on your PC, it may be a few seconds out.

I'm working on it...

 

[craigclu]

here's one

http://www.visualperception.net/timer/

problem is that flash is not very good at accurate timing. Its microseconds are not microseconds. So depending on your PC, it may be a few seconds out.

I'm working on it...

That's exactly how I imagined it being. This will be a very useful tool, especially for easily controlling odd routines. Stand routines should work well, too with a simple reset. Nice job!

 

[Neanderman]

Jobo makes (made) two timers for processing.

I believe GraLab made a digital timer that could be programmed with multiple steps as well.

Ed

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

This software for a compensating timer was reviewed in the most recent issue of _View Camera_ magazine--

http://www.curtpalm.com/Software.html

It looks interesting.

 

[RobC]

That's exactly how I imagined it being. This will be a very useful tool, especially for easily controlling odd routines. Stand routines should work well, too with a simple reset. Nice job!

http://www.visualperception.net/timer/

Fixed timer to self correct so it should to run to within a second accuracy over any time period regardless of your PC.

If you want to use it then please copy it to your own machine with the html file as it won't stay where it is forever.
You can copy swf file from your browser cache. I may add some stuff to it in future but not right now.

Any problems let me know.