luminous tape in darkroom

[andrewmetz]

How much does luminous or "glow in the dark" tape affect film when loading it into a processing tank? I want to stick some small pieces on my shears and other small items that I tend to drop or can't always find in the course of working in total darkness. I have luminous dials on my timers and clock but I usually cover them when I am loading film to be developed. I'm getting old and have a hard time keeping track of things when I need to process a large number of reels and I find myself constantly knocking my shears or processing tank off the counter and having to feel around till I find it on the floor. Will small pieces of luminous tape applied to these items affect the film itself? I don't want to fog anything but I also don't like to pack everything away in the cabinet and then grab the minilux light and play search and rescue for the things I dropped. If I can put some very small slivers of this tape on these items it would be a big help.
Thanks for any input.

 

[Photo Engineer]

I have found luminous tape to have an effect on panchromatic materials, but only when the object was acidentally laid on top of the tape itself. It left a faint darkened stripe after a rather short exposure. I can't remember the exposure time, but I do remember seeing the object's outline on the photo material.

PE

 

[Monophoto]

I use a lot of phosphorescent tape in my darkroom, but like Ron, I've never had a problem with it fogging film.

However, I do tend to use it judiciously. In the early days, my supply of the tape was very limited, so I used a hold punch to cut out small dots that I put in critical locations. Even today, with a large roll of the tape in the cupboard, I still keep the size of the pieces I use fairly small. Just cautious, I guess.

By the way, I bought my roll at Adorama - I dropped in one day several years ago and saw that they had a small display right at the cashier's counter, so I did an impulse purchase.

That was before I retired and became much more fiscally responsible.

 

[jeroldharter]

I used to use glow in the dark tape but gave it up due to fogging concerns.

I think the bast way to manage is to always do things in the same sequence, in the same spot, with everything always in the same place so that it is hard to misplace anything in the dark.

Something that might be of use to you is this:

Dead Link Removed

I use an earlier model in the darkroom and find it very convenient for stashing scissors, markers for test strips, protecting clothes from chemicals, etc.

 

[Konical]

Good Afternoon, Andrew,

I agree with Ron; I think you'd almost have to try very deliberately to cause a problem. My timer(Gralab 300) has luminous markings, and I have luminous tape on or near various light switches in my darkroom. As far as I can tell, light-sensitive materials have never been affected. I do, however, turn the timer face away from the nearby working area when I load film holders and developing reels. I doubt that I really need to do so, but I like to be extra cautious.

Konical

 

[Dan Henderson]

I have some bits of tape stuck on critical things around my enlarger, and I also used some thin strips on the easel to mark where to move my test strip mask to. I used to be concerned enough when loading film into tanks that I laid a plastic bag that paper comes in over the easel. Then one day I forgot and nothing dreadful happened. So now I make sure my body is between the film and the luminescence, and get the film loaded and into the tank as quickly as possible.

Once in awhile I do get careless and lay a piece of paper on the strips on the easel and end up with the dark lines others mentioned.

 

[pentaxuser]

A range of opinions/ experiences here. I bought "glow in the dark" tape when I began my darkroom and thought I could use it to highlight the end-stops I had set up on a paper cutter to allow me to cut 10x8 RA4 paper into 2 x 5x8 pieces. However I found that it left magenta marks on the paper as I was trying to place it into the end-stops. I ditched the tape and purchased a DUKA lamp which gave me enough light and no problems.

Based on this and it may not be applicable, I'd be wary of attaching it to scissors used for cutting film. When you cut the film the tape is literally coming into contact with the film which is as close as you can get.

Based on my experience I never did use it to identify light switches, tank tops etc although I think that provided there is a gap between the tape and the light sensitive object it might be OK I certainly think that the distance of a light switch from film is unlikely to pose a problem and maybe if the tape is small and placed on top of a tank lid which is some distance way from the reel on which the film is being loaded then once the reel is in the tank, bringing the top across with the tape on it and not projecting onto the film it may also be OK but I'd stick to leaving the area for tank, top and scissors clear so you can't confuse or knock the objects onto the floor and do it in complete darkness. You can and will get an amazing "feel" for things if you practice. Just look at how good, totally blind people are and I was amazed at what the Ilford operators accomplish in 100% blackout areas on the recent tour.

pentaxuser

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

I use older analog Time-O-Lite timers with the glow-in-the-dark faces, when loading sheet film into holders I generally cover the faces with a cloth or turn them away from me if I am generally within 3 feet or so. With paper I don't worry so much, generally the paper doesn't get close enough or stay long enough around it.

I've found that the stars you put on your ceiling as a kid work great for timer footswitches, enlarger focusing handles and light switches. Not as bright as a huge strip.

It's good for a darkroom that you aren't familiar with, after a while though you probably won't even need it.

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

Using a hole puncher is a good idea! I still think that luminous tape is expensive! I can't even buy gaffers tape without cringing. I guess i'm cheap!

 

[chriscrawfordphoto]

The glow in the dark hands on my Seiko wristwatch has fogged film while i was loading film on reels in the dark. I always take it off before working with film but forgot one day and it showed up.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

How much does luminous or "glow in the dark" tape affect film when loading it into a processing tank?

I have bits of the stuff stuck here and there to mark the edges of tables, chairs, wastebaskets, light switches etc.. I ran a test loading TMZ-3200 1) in the darkroom with the tape and timer glowing and 2) in a changing bag -- there was no difference in the fog level of the two rolls.

As always, YMWV. I didn't lay the film up against brightly glowing tape, just proceeded to load a reel as I usually do.

All I can suggest is a similar experiment. If you can't see any difference then there isn't any difference worth worrying about.

I have found the red neon lamps on power outlet strips to be a serious fog hazard and I cover them up tight in black electrician's tape.

As for scissors, the StaticMaster and the church-key for opening cassettes, I have all of these tied to strings that are attached to the darkroom bench.

I have a small dimmable red led flashlight used by astronomers (made by Celestron) that I use for finding dropped objects; I cover the film temporarily while finding the errant dropped whatsit.

 

[Anscojohn]

I use glo-in-the dark paint from Michael's craft store on the door knob and the knob to the pull chain on my overhead light. Never a problem.