[alt-photo] Re : Re : Re: UV light for cyanotypes

[ding dangdong]

I also made a box of sort made from foam backed aluminum insulation material to protect me from hazardous UV rays. I am not sure of its efficiency as a reflector but i have the crumpled aluminum side in the interior face of the box. It measures 60wx60lx50h. It is flexible and can be stowed away while you slide the negative paper sandwich in the glass. 


Im a happy printer!
Rodrigo



________________________________
 De : ding dangdong <dingedangedonge at yahoo.fr>
À : The alternative photographic processes mailing list <alt-photo-process-list at lists.altphotolist.org> 
Envoyé le : Mercredi 22 février 2012 18h22
Objet : [alt-photo] Re :  Re: UV light for cyanotypes
 
Whoaa! 93usd a bulb now! 
I'm so glad i followed my instincts back in 2007and bought 4 more of this after receiving my original purchase of 2 in a destockage sale. I paid 30euros per bulb. 


For me, this setup is ideal because of its convenience, efficiency and most of all--it doesn't take me more than 20 minutes to rig it up before i can start printing.  Its just basic wiring and no ballast. (just make sure though that you get the suitable E27 receptacle for 300watts). 

Variables in exposure time is still the same with other light sources. Bulb distance to frame and chemistry dilution. Right now, my standard rig is two bulbs suspended with a 40 cm distance to print frame. It prints 8x10 easily without light fall-off. When i print bigger, i just add two more bulbs (total 1200watts) to avoid fall-off and i cut my exposure time in about half. My standard exposure time for cyanotypes traditional  mix is between 6 and 9 minutes with the variation dependent on the final process i have in mind, straight cyanos or gum over cyano. 


Rodrigo  



________________________________
De : Tomas Sobota <tom at sobota.net>
À : The alternative photographic processes mailing list <alt-photo-process-list at lists.altphotolist.org> 
Envoyé le : Mercredi 22 février 2012 17h04
Objet : [alt-photo] Re: UV light for cyanotypes

Sarah,

Before building a UV box, I used this sun tan lamp:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?client=ubuntu&channel=fs&q=osram+UV+lights&oe=utf-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=14478487383285518444&sa=X&ei=Dg5FT7-OLo-4hAfFmJ37AQ&ved=0CGQQ8wIwBA

(also here:)
http://www.bulbtronics.com/Search-The-Warehouse/ProductDetail.aspx?sid=0013779&pid=OSULTRAVITALUX&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

It will cost you around US$ 100, and it works fine for medium-sized prints.
Also, it has an advertised lifetime of 5000 hours, I never managed to burn
one.

When you turn on this lamp you have to wait around a minute until the UV
output stabilizes. You will notice this because the light turns to a
greenish hue (avoid looking directly into the lamp, obviously). Then you
make the exposition. After turning the lamp off, you have to wait until it
cools down before turning it on again. If doing several prints, you just
leave it on between exposures.

Tom


> Diana
>
> On Feb 22, 2012, at 10:16 AM, Sarah McKemie wrote:
>
> > Hi there,
> >
> > I am a traditional printer and am just starting to scrape the surface of
> alt. process.
> > I teach a intro and advanced darkroom class at a community college and
> would like to try doing cyanotype's with my adv. class.
> > To give them (and myself) an introduction to cyanotypes.
> > However, our class is at night,  so I will need a uv source.
> >
> >
> > I do not feel confident to make one with wiring, etc. Nor do I have time
> right now.
> > I would like to buy something affordable.
> > In Christopher James, Alternative Processes book, he recommends
> "1000-Watt Metal Halide Maximizer Grow Light System", from
> www.hydroponics.net, and he says it is about $250.  Would this be my best
> affodrable bet, or is something cheaper?
> >
> > Do you have any ideas?
> > _______________________________________________
> > Alt-photo-process-list | http://altphotolist.org/listinfo
>
> _______________________________________________
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