Re:BL/daylight exposure

s carl king (sanking@hubcap.clemson.edu)
Tue, 2 Jan 1996 12:03:00 -0500 (EST)

Phil Davis recently conducted some tests with gum and palladium using BL
and daylight tubes. I found the test results very interesting and got PhilUs
permission to post the data to the alt-photographic-process group, hoping that
it
might inspire others to conduct similar tests with the alternative
processes and share the information with the list. I plan to do
so with carbon. If you are interested in this, expose a step tablet calibrated
in .15 density differences so that maximum density is reached (steps 1 and 2
should have the same density) and read the results with a reflection densitometer, and
include all of the test parameters. If you donUt have access to a reflection densitometer
I will be happy to read your test steps and post to the list. Just send your positive
gray scale to me at 136 Stonegate Court, Easley, SC 29642.

The rest here is from Phil Davis.
Sandy King (Sanking@hubcap.clemson.edu)

>I just ran a couple of tests with my light bank and Ivory Black gum samples. I
>coated a sheet of paper with a fairly strong black mixture, dried it, cut two
>similar strips from the center, and exposed one piece through a step tablet to
>9 UV tubes in the center of my light bank for 10 minutes. To avoid any
>"continuing action" I began the "development" immediately. Then I exchanged the
>UV tubes for "daylight" tubes and repeated the test with the other half of the
>coated sample.
>
>Both sets of tubes are well-used but the UV tubes look OK and light up evenly.
>The daylight tubes are partially blackened on the ends and the center one in
>the array failed to light up but I let it go and went on with the test.
>
>Here are the numbers: you can plot them on 1/2-stop intervals (0.15) to see
>what the curves look like.
>
>Step # Day UV
>
> 1 0.75 0.44
> 2 0.68 0.42
> 3 0.64 0.39
> 4 0.59 0.37
> 5 0.49 0.34
> 6 0.38 0.30
> 7 0.23 0.20
> 8 0.05 0.09
> 9 0.02 0.01
> (B+F) 0.0 0.0
>

>
>Here are some palladium numbers for you:
>>During this test all nine of the tubes were active so the comparison is
>completely valid. These are, of course, the old "regular" Westinghouse Black
>Light UV 18" 15-watt white (not filtered) tubes, versus ordinary 18" 15-watt
>"Daylight" fluorescents.
>
Crane's Strathmore
>Step# Day UV Day UV
>
> 1 1.17 1.13 0.85 0.63
> 2 1.05 1.0 0.68 0.53
> 3 0.9 0.86 0.57 0.42
> 4 0.71 0.71 0.43 0.34
> 5 0.54 0.56 0.25 0.24
> 6 0.35 0.43 0.14 0.16
> 7 0.21 0.30 0.05 0.09
> 8 0.10 0.20 0.01 0.04
> 9 0.02 0.09 0.00 0.02
>10 0.01 0.04 0.00
>11 0.00 0.01
>12 0.00
>
>
>Obviously none of these test samples reached maximum black (tupically around
>1.5 for me) but I suppose that density would be similar with both lights if the
>exposures were extended sufficiently.
>
>The effect of the daylight tubes seems to be similar to the addition of added
>restrainer in the sensitizer mix--reduced highlight density and higher
>contrast. Unlike added restrainer, though, the daylight tubes produce higher
>high-density numbers. In other words, above about 0.7 density, the daylight
>tubes are actually "faster" and appear to lose out at the lower densities
>because of their higher contrast.

>
>As far as relative speeds are concerned, you can interpret the curves in
>several ways (because of the considerable difference in contrast or curve
>gradient), depending on your reference density level. If you assume that the
>toe (highlight) densities are a good speed reference then the UV tubes are
>faster; if you refer to the ANSI density level of 0.6 for silver papers, the
>two light sources are approximately equal; but if you calculate on shadow speed
>densities, the daylight tubes come out ahead. Pick the reference density level
>you like best.
>
>Again, I have to point out that these tests were done with old 18" 15watt tubes
>that have been in use for probably 20 years, intermittently. The daylight
>tubes, in particular, are definitely blackened on the ends but I don't have any
>new tubes to compare them with so I don't know how much their output has
>diminished. The UV tubes *look* better (no visible blackening) but I don't know
>how they may have deteriorated, either.

>Phil