Newbie questions about darkroom

I made two prints yesterday with my red bulb with in a red bucket hanging from the selling, ''highlights came out white'' But have yet to test how safe the light is.

''has any one ever tried red engine enamel? I think some one mentioned it, But I can't find where''

Huub said:

The test if your lights are save for the paper you are using, is pretty straight forward. Expose a small sheet of paper until it gets light grey when developed. Put a piece of exposed and undeveloped paper next to your enlarger and put a few coins on it. Wait for around 5 minutes with the red lights on and develop the sheet as normal. When the sheet comes out even grey, you are safe. If you can see where coins have been laying on the paper, you have to use different bulbs.

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Fogging light not only introduces blacks where they were not before at all (as pure whites on the paper), but also changes the contrast of an Image on an exposed paper even before whites are effected.

Huub's test takes that into account by testing on a gray area, not on pure wehites.

The ultimate test would be done on an image of grey-steps (or an image containing a wide range of tones). Exposed for the image in complete dark surrounding, then partially covered for light and exposed to the safelight/room light under the maximum condition to be expected in practise (concerning location and time).
As long as both parts will look the same after processing, all is fine.

Such test should be made for any type of paper used, and any type of safelight in case one uses different safelights.

low pressure sodium vapor lamp

seanE said:

Im using two 60w red painted light bulbs I got in a hard ware. How can I tell if there safe to use? I can drop one of them if wattage is a problem,
I don't have a changing bag, But I'm going to take a wide angle shot of the four corners of the room, With my DSLR at 6400 for 30sec exposure, If it shows up black I'm good right?

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Been building a darkroom for the past few months, slowly locating/acquiring gear. I've been working in total darkness for my test prints, quite an adventure. Finally researching safelights the past two weeks. Two things about "safe" lights. One is the paper your printing and it's light sensitivity, second is your ability to benefit from the "safe" light. If you and the paper both can't see the light might as well work in darkness. Google "low pressure sodium vapor lamp," I'm thinking that's on my next item to purchase list. I picked up a #13 filter Kodak Safe light and basically it allows me to see outlines of the equipment (ie just barely better than darkness)

A #13 filter is for colour materials or panchromatic black and white materials - you need to replace the filter with an OC filter for standard, variable contrast or fixed grade black and white papers.

This Kodak publication will tell you which Kodak safelight filters do what: http://www.kodak.com/global/en/professional/support/techPubs/ti0845/ti0845.pdf

Keep in mind that these are Kodak designations. In Europe one may find filters of another designation system, that by Agfa.

RalphLambrecht said:

I switched from orange to dark-red safelights and aftera brief sdjustment period, I'm much happier with dark red and get better highlights in the prints.a darkroom can't be too dark when it comes to print quality.

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