Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Notices

Go Back   Film and Darkroom User > Equipment > Darkroom

  ***   Click here for the FADU 2015/2014 Yearbooks   ***

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old 28th January 2009, 08:17 AM
Dave miller Dave miller is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,322
Default Amber safe lights

A question arose in discussion with one of our members the other day over the use of the Paterson / Photex globe amber safe lights, I think they were marketed as suitable for variable contrast papers and able to give a brighter light than the red version. I think I remember reading that they were withdrawn because they were found to be unsuitable, allegedly fogging some papers rather too quickly.
Has anyone else experience of them? Is anyone using them in their darkroom?
__________________
Regards
Dave
www.davids.org.uk
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 28th January 2009, 08:41 AM
RH Designs's Avatar
RH Designs RH Designs is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Yorkshire Dales
Posts: 1,088
Default

I have an amber dome for my Photax but haven't used it for years. I bought the specifically variable contrast dome which is a sort of brownish colour, and that works fine - at least with Ilford and Agfa papers. I also have the cylindrical Paterson one with a red filter and that is also OK.
__________________
Regards,
Richard

RH Designs darkroom equipment : dalesphoto.co.uk
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 28th January 2009, 12:41 PM
Steve Smith's Avatar
Steve Smith Steve Smith is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Ryde, Isle of Wight.
Posts: 1,102
Default

I have some very bright amber LEDs at work. They are used for the indicator in the TVR rear light cluster which we make the flexible circuit for.

I'm going to try these out as a safelight one day.

I also have the red LEDs from the same cluster. I should try those too.



Steve.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 28th January 2009, 01:53 PM
Trevor Crone's Avatar
Trevor Crone Trevor Crone is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: London
Posts: 2,609
Default

I've had problems (fogging) in the past with amber safelights with Fote's Polywarmtone paper and Bergger's WT/VC paper. Thus I only use red these days.

All I can say is test them thoroughly with the various papers you use.
__________________
"To the attentive eye, each moment of the year has its own beauty, and in the same field, it beholds, every hour, a picture which was never seen before, and which will never be seen again" Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Timespresent
Arenaphotographers
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 28th January 2009, 03:16 PM
Bob's Avatar
Bob Bob is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: London(ish)
Posts: 2,746
Default

Can't address these specific units but amber (~ 590nm) is quite close to the end of many VC papers sensitivity (usually around 525-550nm from looking at manufacturers' data sheets). This implies that any amber safelight had better be quite narrow-band and as such, not emit much light below it's nominal wavelength. I have doubts how effective coloured plastic will be at this...

Amber LEDs do quite well however and I can get amber light that appears much more pleasant than the usual red or red/orange. Exactly how much this is helped by the fact that our eyes are more sensitive to colour as you go away from red and towards green I'm not sure, but I suspect it is quite significant.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 28th January 2009, 08:51 PM
Mike O'Pray Mike O'Pray is online now
Friend
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Daventry, Northants
Posts: 8,969
Default

A question - just for clarification. I am presuming that the Ilford 902 isn't amber? I have one and very good it is too with MG paper but to tell the truth I don't know how I'd describe the colour of it when illuminated. The glass looks brown when it's off but a kind of "amberish" when lit. All I can say with confidence is that it isn't red.

That's one of the problems on the internet. We can see what the other describes. One man's amber is another man's .......

pentaxuser
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 28th January 2009, 08:56 PM
Dave miller Dave miller is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,322
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike O'Pray View Post
A question - just for clarification. I am presuming that the Ilford 902 isn't amber? I have one and very good it is too with MG paper but to tell the truth I don't know how I'd describe the colour of it when illuminated. The glass looks brown when it's off but a kind of "amberish" when lit. All I can say with confidence is that it isn't red.

That's one of the problems on the internet. We can see what the other describes. One man's amber is another man's .......

pentaxuser
No, not at all. I'm asking about the round ones made by Paterson in which you could see the the lamp filiment glow when lit, sort of amber/brown. The Ilford 902 unit is among the best.
__________________
Regards
Dave
www.davids.org.uk
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 28th January 2009, 09:01 PM
Barry's Avatar
Barry Barry is offline
Administrator
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Mendip Hills, Somerset
Posts: 2,368
Default

Ilford's definitions: -

902 Light Brown
904 Dark Brown
906 Dark Red
907 Dark Green
908 Very dark Green
914 Sepia
915 Light Red
916 Dark Green

Ilford recommend the 902 for most Ilford paper including Multigrade. Adox recommends the use of a Dark Red safelight for their VarioClassic Paper.
__________________
Cheers, Barry
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 28th January 2009, 09:05 PM
Dave miller Dave miller is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 6,322
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave View Post
No, not at all. I'm asking about the round ones made by Paterson in which you could see the the lamp filiment glow when lit, sort of amber/brown. The Ilford 902 unit is among the best.
It's the "VF" model on this page. As it's still listed, I assume it's still sold.
__________________
Regards
Dave
www.davids.org.uk
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 29th January 2009, 08:44 AM
RH Designs's Avatar
RH Designs RH Designs is offline
Friend
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Yorkshire Dales
Posts: 1,088
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave View Post
It's the "VF" model on this page. As it's still listed, I assume it's still sold.
That's the one I use. Seems OK. I haven't tested it lately but when I last did it was fine.
__________________
Regards,
Richard

RH Designs darkroom equipment : dalesphoto.co.uk
Reply With Quote
Reply
Support our Sponsors, they keep FADU free:   AG Photographic   The Imaging Warehouse   Process Supplies   RH Designs   Second-hand Darkroom Supplies  

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
how long in fixer till safe to turn lights on Argentum Monochrome printing techniques 15 28th February 2009 12:57 PM


All times are GMT. The time now is 12:03 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.