photax vf safelight and Fomabrom 113

gunner

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I'm thinking about trying some Fomabrom variant113 paper the foma product sheets mentions using different safe lighting from other B&W papers. I have 2 safelights in my darkroom with Photax VF domes which appear to be a brownish colour would these be suitable or do I need different safe lights for this paper?and if anyone has used this paper what are their opinions on it
 

koraks

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Foma recommends red safelights for their papers if I'm not mistaken. I know that some Foma papers actually do give problems with non-red safelights. I wouldn't risk it, as the spectrum of those safelights likely extends into the response curve of the green-sensitive emulsion; even if there is no visible fog, it can still influence contrast.

For a B&W darkroom, I would really recommend nothing but deep red safelights these days.
 

RalphLambrecht

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Foma papers prefer only pure read safelights. Otherwise, they tend to be sensitive to fogging.
 

Ian Grant

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I use Photax VF filter domes on a couple of safelights, these are fine for normal B&W printing. I also use a Kodak beehive safelight with a 10Hfilter this is actually for Ektacolor paper essentially it's a deep amber brown, Ilford's equivalent is a 908, this is perfectly safe with a paper like Variant 113, it's OK for panchromatic materials and Ilfochrome used indirect at the correct distance. .

One suggestion is use the Paterson/Photax safelight on a dimmer switch to reduce the voltage and output, or better still fit an E14 LED Pygmy Bulb, 1.4W Red - this is equivalent to a 10W Tungsten bulb.

Ian
 

Ian Grant

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The Paterson/Photax red-orange domes can cause issues in a small darkroom with VC papers. The problems is reduced contarst due to the Herschel effect which is latent image bleaching by red light. It's nly likely to happen in quite a small darkoom.

The Paterson/Photax red-orange dome is also brighter and outside the parameters Foma suggest for this particular paper which needs a deeper red filter. Again a dimmer would help.

Ian
 

Doremus Scudder

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Fomabrom 113 has a different sensitivity than their other papers. Here's the quote from the data sheet:

"Safelighting
FOMABROM VARIANT 113 BO is orthochromatic sensibilized photo paper so if you work with it you should use safety illumination different from common black and white photo paper. It is routinely processed at indirect safety illumination with wavelength of 625 nm and higher, corresponding colour of safety illumination is orange or red. As to its high sensitivity the processed material has to be exposed to such illumination only for the time necessary for its processing. Length of exposure and a distance of the processed material from the illumination source should be tested."

("sensibilized," don't you just love British English...)

I'd only use red with this paper. Plus, I'd limit the exposure time to safelight by minimizing the time the paper is out, dimming the light or pointing it away from the tray area. I always develop prints face-down for most of the development time, turning the print face-up for just a few seconds at a time to check on the progress of development (at 20 sec., 1 minute, 1'45").

FWIW, I use Fomabrom 111 a lot and have found that a regular Kodak OC safelight fogs this paper very quickly. I've switched to Wratten #1 and 1A filters for my whole darkroom now. I haven't really tested for the Hershel effect. Maybe I'll do that today.

Best,

Doremus
 

miha

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I have two old-fashioned Dr. Fischer light bulbs installed in my darkroom. Not the brightest but the safest lightning I think?

 

Ian Grant

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While in my darkroom yesterday evening I found the box one of my VF domes came in with this sheet:



While Kodak and Ilford as well as Paterson/Photoax make loosely equivalent safelight filters they aren't exact equivalents. I bought a third Paterson/photax safelight at a cCAmera Fair last year for £1 it has the C filter dome which is equivalent to a Wratten OC, it's brighter so less safe than the VF.

I've used my VF filters with various Foma papers with no issues at all however as pointed out this one needs a different safelight, Photax sold the D Khaki dome equivalent to an Ilford 908/Wratten 10 but while this would be very safe also very dim and probably impossible to find. That's why I suggested using the E14 LED Pygmy Bulb, 1.4W Red in your existing safelight with the VF filter,, it's a direct fit.

Output is 1.4w but equivalent to a 10w Tungsten bulb.

Ian
 

pentaxuser

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Ian, I have the Ilford 902 filter rectangular . If I were to use Foma papers would a straight switch to the E14 LED red pygmy bulb you illustrate inside the 902 be OK? I ask because I couldn't work out if the Ilford 902 is a close enough equivalent to the VF filter in the Photax spec sheet.

Thanks

pentaxuser
 

Ian Grant

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Ilford recommend a 902 for Multigrade, it's close to the VF filter in colour and density. I'd only add the red LED bulb for the paper the OP is asking about.

Ian
 

pentaxuser

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Ian Grant said:
Ilford recommend a 902 for Multigrade, it's close to the VF filter in colour and density. I'd only add the red LED bulb for the paper the OP is asking about.

Ian
Click to expand...
Thanks Ian. My worry was that if I ever decide to try Foma papers I would need to change my Ilford 902 filter as well

pentaxuser
 

Tom Kershaw

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I have two safelights set up in my darkroom at present, a larger unit with 12"x10" top and 10"x8" bottom '902' ILFORD filters containing a 25W conventional tungsten lamp, and secondly a Paterson red dome safelight mounted on the far wall with a 15W lamp which I use for Foma papers (and probably the new Adox Polywarmtone II - when it arrives). The low power safelight is also useful for acclimatising to the light when working in complete darkness.
 

pentaxuser

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Tom are you saying that you have two Ilford 902s both of which have 25W lamps and that both are on when using the likes of Ilford paper? What's the size of your darkroom?

Thanks

pentaxuser
 
OP
OP

gunner

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Ian, thanks for your input on this subject, I have found a source for a photax D lid at a reasonable price, my darkroom is approx 9 foot x 8 foot, would the D filter be best or would fitting a 1.4 watt led bulb to the VF filter be the best option for this paper? Thanks in advance
 

Ian Grant

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Without trying a comparison that'sa hard one. The VF with a red led lamp is going to be not far different.

Buy that D cover anywayas the other newer one has gone already - my way I've left you te one with Free postage It would be useful for Direct Positive paper as well.

Ian
 

pentaxuser

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Tom Kershaw said:
Just one safelight that takes two '902' filters in the centre of the darkroom.

Tom
Click to expand...
T hanks Tom. So two filters, one on top of the other. I always thought that the Ilford safelight boxes were designed for one filter or another but not for two different sized filters so I am still curious about why two filters are needed and how they both fit? Also does this not reduce the illumination more than is necessary?

pentaxuser
 

Tom Kershaw

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The 12"x10" filter in on the top of the safelight and the 10"x8" on the bottom. The whole thing hangs from the ceiling.
 
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