eh!...fog..ette about it!!

[jovo]

yup...i'm an MF veteran, but a LF newbie. forgive me if this query has been asked and answered more times than mr. bush has been challenged by the english language, but: when tray developing 4x5 film, is there any risk of fogging from the luminous dial of gralab or time-o-lite timers? does one use a metronome and count till one is hoarse or what? i've used a daylight tank, but i'd rather use trays and process fewer negatives for all the obvious reasons one does that. so .... please help??

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I haven't had a problem with that, but my timer isn't right near the trays, and I don't leave a thermometer in or near the tray.

Processing in open trays, though, does mean you should pay a little more attention to all those little light leaks you may have and try to eliminate them, and you might want to be careful about working quickly and keeping developer times to a minimum.

 

[dr bob]

I've been tray developing for 50 years and have never had perceivable fog from the timer display (which always seems extra bright just as the film back is opened) None the less, I still worry about light from all possible things and take precautions. I would blame age, but I have done this as a teen: When processing prints, I hate it when I reach for the timer switch and pull the inspection light switch instead, even though they are separated by a good bit.

 

[Joe Lipka]

There is no problem with lluminous dials provided they are far enough from the film trays. Just do what most tray developers do: close your eyes during development just to make sure it's dark enough.

 

[jovo]

thanks for the information folks. i've been looking forward to tray processing and you've all helped remove the last of my concerns. it's odd btw, that among the several written descriptions of the process i've seen in books, none mention this issue. thanks again!

 

[BobF]

Jovo, I did test this with a luminous star that I placed a couple of inches from some triX for a minute and it did slightly fog the film, but the star wasn't much brighter than Kerry on his best day. (sorry, politics don't really belong here do they?)

Timer dials should be no problem unless you put it in the tray.

 

[Deckled Edge]

I have two Gralab 300 model timers in my 6' x 12' darkroom, and I asked this same question. When I could get no answers, I did the following test:
I placed the Gralab at the foot of an 8x10 film holder loaded with Bergger BPF 200. I set the timer for 1 minute and pulled the darkslide half way out, revealing 5" of film. The luminous dial was within 2 inches of the film for one minute. After 60 sec. I turned the Gralab around, pulled the darkslide the rest of the way out and put my luminous dial watch directly on the film surface for 30 sec. and then, in a different spot, 6" away from the film for 30 sec. I then developed the film in HC110 at my N+2 time/temp.
There was NO evidence of the Gralab or the watch dial held above the film. There was a Zone V round splotch where the watch had contacted the film.
Conclusion: Don't take off your watch when loading film. Don't worry about the Gralab fogging film. Don't lay a luminous dial watch on top of unexposed film.
DE

 

[jovo]

glad to see there's some empirical evidence for the lack of fog on film...the further reassurance is welcome. thanks.

btw...mr. bush has a nice way with self-deprecating humor. when introducing governor schwarzenegger at the republican governor's conference, he cited the things they had in common among which were: marrying well and trouble with the english language...it got a good laugh! (i think he also mentioned biceps, but that's another story.)

 

[Ed Sukach]

It's amazing how the human eye can adjust to different light levels. My darkroom is *far* from light-leak-proof; I have various displays going - LEDs on the JOBO processor (although automatically dimmed) a LED radio tuning display, the ColorStar LED display, the Omega D5500 control panel display... fogging has never been a problem. I do admit to closing my eyes when loading film, to minimize the light leak effect. I also, more often than not, keep my glasses on ...???

Now ... Kerry. He *is* from Massachusetts. In this case it is less than six degrees of separation ... One of the Lawyers in my daughter's law firm (she is a Legal Secretary) worked *closely* with him on his campaigns for the Senatorial elections -- and I can *guarantee* he is anything BUT a dim bulb! I've heard nothing but good things about him from those who have worked with him.... unofficially, when they have nothing to gain or lose.
One thing I've heard ... he *hates* to lie ... that really goes against his "grain". Compare that to .... (!!!).

 

[BobF]

Could be Ed, I haven't met either man. And despite all of the attacks on both, I really doubt either one could get where they are if they were dunces. Well maybe you could say that about ex-president mr....never mind.

My point was to make an equally off topic ad hominem attack that fit in with darkrooms. All other posibilities didn't have as good a darkroomish punch line. (GWB taught me that word)

I am off to stir things up over at WWW.DemocraticUnderground as that's where well reasoned political discussions belong.

Dmin