Will this Light for Platinum Pladium printing work ?

[Terry Breedlove]

Thinking about buying a kit to make platinum/ Pladium prints from 4x5 negatives. I have the 220 power source and proper light socket. Will this light work for this ?

http://www.amazon.com/ULTRA-VITALUX...576601&sr=8-3&keywords=tanning+lamps+for+home

 

[sly]

"Tanning" means UV light. It should work. My light source is a tanning bed - rescued from someone's garage. Works fine, and I can expose a bunch of things at once. It's overkill tho, when I'm just doing a test or 2.

 

[Terry Breedlove]

Thank you.
I am hoping that for the small 4x5 prints I will be making it will be an affordable way to learn.

 

[Vaughn]

It should work, but make sure that it is far enough away for even coverage (should be no problem for 4x5) -- BUT -- make sure that your print does not get too hot if the exposures are long.

The "specs" say it is solar powered!LOL! It is 230V, so that may cause a problem unless you are already wired for 220V.

Edited to add -- might not give a lot of UV, being an Incandescent bulb (according to the specs linked)...You might want to check with the manufacturer website about the output of this bulb.

You might be better off with several of these: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Feit-Ele...Bulb-BPESL15T-BLB-HD/100553168#specifications

or some of the plug-and-go models they have: http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-22-in-Fluorescent-Blacklight-Fixture-10186/202024447

Three of those and you can do several 4x5's at a time -- add a couple more if you got to 8x10 someday.

 

[dpurdy]

When I first started platinum printing I used incandescent tanning bulbs available at lots of stores. They were regular 275 watt UV bulbs that looked like flood lights and would burn the bejezeesus out of your face if you fell asleep under one. I made a bank of them for printing 8x10. It got pretty hot but never caused a problem. They made them illegal as tanning bulbs because too many people did fall asleep under them. They are still available today as UV curing bulbs, still 275 watts regular 110 but now they come with the larger mogul base. They used to be cheap as tanning bulbs but as UV curing bulbs they are very expensive. Much better to go to a specialty lighting shop and buy florescent uv bulbs with fixtures.
Dennis

 

[Terry Breedlove]

Thank you guys I will try it

 

[Vaughn]

The problem is that if Terry buys one of the lamps, what if it works great? He probably won't be able to find any more for sale after it finally burns out. If he buys three or four to last him a long time, he risks the lamp type not working well for his needs and he is stuck with a lot of them! A deliminamana or something!

Where one exposes makes a difference. Florescent BL (or BLB) bulbs run cooler and can be fit into enclosures well. This keeps stray UV from the room -- nice if you are processing exposed prints and exposing prints in the same room at the same time. I run 750W self-ballasted merc vapor lamps...sort of like the tanning lamps on steroids. They are not fun to hang around with when they get turned on. The lamps are in a different room with cool air blown over the contact printing frames for my hour or so long exposures (carbon). The lamps are about 15 inches away from the contact printing frame. I have several of the lamps...hope they last as long as I can!

If you have not yet checked this out, this article is great: http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Light/light.html

 

[nsurit]

Something like this should also work. I've seen set ups where there was a box built around this sort of light.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Verseo-Faci...nner-Tanning-Light-Lamp-w-Timer-/261656752773

 

[nsurit]

If anyone is interested, I have plans, that I got from an APUG member several years ago on how to build a high quality UV box. I've built two, which were used in a college alt process class. Reliable, good quality set up. Supplies will cost about $400 for a 28' X 28" exposure unit. Requires some skills/access to a table saw and pretty basic tool skills (drills,screwdrivers, etc.) PM me if interested. Bill Barber

 

[Terry Breedlove]

What do you think about this four light setup with the little black lights ?




http://www.ebay.com/itm/4in1-Studio...g=20140407115239&rk=21&rkt=30&sd=230531100461

 

[Vaughn]

For the price of the fixture and the cost of the bulbs, you can hardly lose! Tho that face-tanner nsurit linked to looks pretty nifty!