Compact fluorescents and alt processes

colrehogan · Apr 26, 2008

Has anyone had any issues with doing alt process printing with the compact fluorescent light bulbs, like fogging of the paper once coated (or any other issues)? I am curious, since there has been such a big push for people to replace their old tungsten light bulbs and 'go green'.

I do pt/pd printing and was just wondering.

Tomf2468 · Apr 26, 2008

It would depend on how fast you work! If you are slow, or if you coat a lot of sheets at once, I would expect fluorescents to be a bad idea. You can read my alt process safelight test article here:
http://www.ferguson-photo-design.com/alternative/safelight.html

Hope that helps,
Tom

David A. Goldfarb · Apr 26, 2008

I've tested for fog from fluorescents with albumen paper, and with normal distances like a fluorescent lighting fixture on a ceiling or otherwise more than four feet or so from the paper, it would probably take a 24 hour exposure to register anything significant, particularly since the toning and fixing processes have a bleaching effect, so a small amount of base fog would be bleached out anyway.

Akki14 · Apr 26, 2008

I do cyanotypes under CF bulb about 3ft away from my coating and i've not had a problem with it. I think the "tiny amount of UV" is a little overstated in some cases. Probably depends on what process you're doing as some are more sensitive than others. And I've coated 35 (or so) postcards in one go without fogging issues (indeed I ended up screwing up most of those due to underexposure, d'oh!)

bobherbst · Apr 26, 2008

Coating under CF lamps

The susceptibility of the coating to the UV from CF lamps will depend on the process and mixture. If you tune your negatives to use little on no contast agent in the Pt/Pd process, the coating will be more susceptible. I ran some test on this several years ago. I doubt it is a problem, but I choose to use incandescent lamps in my coating area simply to eliminate another variable. Bug lights are definitely NOT required. We've used normal soft white bulbs for years in workshops with no problems.

Bob

Akki14 said:
I do cyanotypes under CF bulb about 3ft away from my coating and i've not had a problem with it. I think the "tiny amount of UV" is a little overstated in some cases. Probably depends on what process you're doing as some are more sensitive than others. And I've coated 35 (or so) postcards in one go without fogging issues (indeed I ended up screwing up most of those due to underexposure, d'oh!)

nze · Apr 26, 2008

I don't use Low energy bulb in my lab as It just fog my platinum paper and other UV sensitive process. It isn't really visible, but if you compare a sheet coat under bulb and another under fluorescent bulb you will clearly see the difference. Just a little loss in contrast.

colrehogan · Apr 27, 2008

I do not use contrasting agents in my pt/pd solutions. I air dry my paper and usually coat the next sheet while the first is exposing under the UV box. Thanks for the replies.

Compact fluorescents and alt processes

colrehogan

Tomf2468

David A. Goldfarb

Moderator

Akki14

bobherbst

nze

colrehogan

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency