Arista Photo Paper - Tungsten Light

trragan · Apr 24, 2020

Hello, I'm new to dark room printing, and just bought some Arista multigrade RC paper for learning technique. I previously bought some Ilford Multigrade paper before and it worked fine, but I was using it up really quickly with little to show for efforts. I can't seem to find anything in Ilford's literature saying what type of light is required.

The reason I ask is that after reading the Arista technical information; it says its meant for Tungsten light. I'm assuming that is meaning any incandescent bulb used for enlargers. Is that a safe assumption?

GRHazelton · Apr 24, 2020

Ordinary incandescent bulbs are "tungsten." Most enlargers use tungsten lamps, so you should be good to go.

trragan · Apr 24, 2020

I really appreciate it. That's what I thought too, just didn't know why they differentiated it. Thanks again.

MattKing · Apr 24, 2020

In addition to the enlargers that use tungsten bulbs, there are a fair number that use halogen bulbs - particularly enlargers with light sources designed for colour printing. They too will work fine with your paper.
Historically there were enlargers that used fluorescent or "cold" light sources. Some were designed for multigrade papers, whereas others were not.
Some very new enlarger light sources use LEDs. Some LEDs output light that isn't suited to your paper, but if you have one of those new light sources it probably was designed for multigrade paper.

pentaxuser · Apr 24, 2020

I am not sure why it says "meant for tungsten light" As GR says most enlarger bulbs are tungsten but as far as I am aware paper can be exposed for printing with LED light or in some enlargers there is a form of cold light in the form of tubes that give off much less heat

On the other hand papers differ in what kind of light they are safe to be handled i.e. safelights but once again while the filters on safelights need to change depending on paper( some need a red safelight and others like Ilford are OK with a slight amber coloured filter )but behind the filter all the bulbs are basically the same i.e. normal incandescents

I do wonder what Arista means. I am confused about Arista's purpose in mentioning tungsten light.

pentaxuser

MattKing · Apr 24, 2020

pentaxuser said:
I am not sure why it says "meant for tungsten light"

Probably a holdover from the days when many cold light (fluorescent) sources were incompatible with many variable contrast papers.

Vaughn · Apr 24, 2020

MattKing said:
Probably a holdover from the days when many cold light (fluorescent) sources were incompatible with many variable contrast papers.

Probably because the color of tungsten light works best (as advertised/designed) with their VC filters.

Paul Howell · Apr 24, 2020

As my negatives are scaled for grade 2 a LED bulb works fine for me, and I if decide to print higher, grade 3 1/2 or 4 then I switch to a tungsten enlarger bulb. When I used the Omega cold light on my D3, and was printing with VC I used a yellow color correction filter. Depending on your enlarger the safe bet is a 75 or 150 tungsten bulb.

Anon Ymous · Apr 25, 2020

@MattKing Halogen bulbs are a variation of tungsten bulbs, not something fundamentally different. They're more efficient, but still have a tungsten filament.

MattKing · Apr 25, 2020

Anon Ymous said:
@MattKing Halogen bulbs are a variation of tungsten bulbs, not something fundamentally different. They're more efficient, but still have a tungsten filament.

True, but the different name in the label on the package and the specification sheet for the enlarger might confuse the OP.

pentaxuser · Apr 25, 2020

Anyone know who makes the Arista papers? This might help us work out the reason for the "tungsten light reference that the OP is confused about as am I still?

Thanks

pentaxuser

Doremus Scudder · Apr 25, 2020

AFAIK, Foma makes the Aristo papers. At least the fiber-base ones I use are indistinguishable and the packaging says "Made in the Czech Republic."

Tungsten light sources have a continuous spectrum that's heavily weighted in the red and falls off through the rest of the visible part of the spectrum. VC papers and filters are designed to respond to that general distribution of wavelengths. Other light sources, like fluorescent and LED sources are discontinuous and can have different spectral characteristics which can change the way the paper responds. Many work with these other sources and find them just fine.

Doremus

pentaxuser · Apr 25, 2020

Foma is not a paper I use but while it needs a red safelight as far as I know the paper is OK with a range of lights for exposure. I still puzzle about the phrase" meant for tungsten light and what that really means.

Unless the implication is that anything other than tungsten is not OK and this leaves the question of halogen which is essentially tungsten anyway as has been pointed out it doesn't seem to help buyers or the seller Arista and may work against it.

Surely someone at Arista was tempted to ask: What does this mean to a buyer and could it hinder rather than assist our buyers

pentaxuser

Doremus Scudder · Apr 26, 2020

pentaxuser said:
... I still puzzle about the phrase" meant for tungsten light and what that really means.
Unless the implication is that anything other than tungsten is not OK and this leaves the question of halogen which is essentially tungsten anyway as has been pointed out it doesn't seem to help buyers or the seller Arista and may work against it...
pentaxuser

Pentaxuser,

Here's what Ilford says about their Multigrade papers (excerpt from the tech sheet on Multigrade classic, p. 2):

"Exposing light sources
MULTIGRADE FB CLASSIC is designed for use with most enlargers and printers, such as those fitted with either a tungsten or tungsten halogen light source.

It is also suitable for use with cold cathode (cold light) light sources designed for variable contrast papers. Other cold cathode (cold light) and pulsed xenon light sources may give a reduced contrast range." [emphasis added.]

AFAIK, all VC papers are designed with tungsten light sources in mind, since they are the most prevalent. Notice that Ilford doesn't mention LEDs. Maybe they are too new as enlarger light sources.

Best,

Doremus

jvo · Apr 27, 2020

see if the is another member nearby who you can visit, or invite them to visit you - it'll make a huge difference getting started.

welcome to photrio

Arista Photo Paper - Tungsten Light

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