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  #1  
Old 31st October 2019, 09:01 PM
Nat Polton Nat Polton is offline
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Default How Many Safelights @

In the distant past all of my printing was done in a space about 8 - 10 foot square. This was brightly illuminated with one Ilford S902, 5x7", amber/brown safelight. With a 15 watt bulb fitted. Everything was comfortable to see in that small space.

The room that I am going to use in the near future is about sixteen feet square and extra lighting would be a convenience.

I have now been given a couple more glass S902 filters. I intend to make tin boxes to take them.

Even if I keep them at the recommended distances, I am wondering if you can have too much safe light?


Cheers.
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Old 31st October 2019, 09:25 PM
Mike O'Pray Mike O'Pray is offline
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Nat, so the room is 16x16ft.That's quite large. Mine is about 8x9 so mine has only about a third of your square footage . I use the same safelight but only one and find that a 25W is OK for the time my paper is out of its box but not in the developer. Mind you in my case I use a deep slot Nova so once it is in the dev slot very little light is getting to it. In your room I think you could try 2. I'd have both boxes pointed towards the ceiling especially if you are tray developing and then do a safelight test. It really is the only way to know if 2 are safe. I think that you will be fine with 2 but the paper couldn't care less what I think

Mike
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Old 31st October 2019, 09:28 PM
Lostlabours Lostlabours is offline
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I use two Paterson/Photax VC dome (filter) safelights in a 11x12 ft darkroom, they are the same as an Ilford 902. I do use a third a Kodak Beehive safelight with a Wratten 10H but that's a colour safelight and dark amber so very safe for B&W papers it illuminates the light switches and is quite a way from the enlargers and developing trays.

You can have too much safelight but then you can use them with a dimmer switch.

Ilford themselves use 902 safelights in their paper cutting and packaging area but at a much lower intensity than normal more like about 3.75 watt per safelight, they possibly wire them in series to cut output.

It's worth noting that there are now very low wattage LED equivalents to some incandescent bulbs,

Ian

Last edited by Lostlabours; 31st October 2019 at 09:34 PM.
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Old 31st October 2019, 09:55 PM
Mike O'Pray Mike O'Pray is offline
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Nat, if you google Kodak Publication K4 - October 2006 you'll get the safelight test which is pretty thorough

Mike
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Old 1st November 2019, 12:39 AM
maxwellmakosk maxwellmakosk is offline
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Second the safelight test, I have a 6x12ft room I bounce a 902 off the ceiling in the middle works great for me. You may also find you only need safelight in certain areas in which case you could just prioritize those.
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Old 1st November 2019, 12:34 PM
Nat Polton Nat Polton is offline
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I think I have been a bit lax when describing the room as 16 foot square.
I will only be using one corner of the room, and have a largish tent affair clamped to the table to cover the enlarger and dry working area, this will keep dust at bay. The rest of the open table will have the dishes and wet side of things on.
So a lot of the space will be lit just enough to get to and from the door.
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Old 1st November 2019, 12:35 PM
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Martin Aislabie Martin Aislabie is offline
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Yes it is possible to have too much safelight.

However, it also depends on where you shine the lights and from what distance.

A well lit darkroom is a much nicer place to spend time than a really dim one.

The inverse square law works for safelights - so doubling the distance from the light to the subject reduces the light density to 1/4.

What ever you do, it is always worth doing a safelight test.

Martin
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Old 1st November 2019, 01:19 PM
Terry S Terry S is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lostlabours View Post
It's worth noting that there are now very low wattage LED equivalents to some incandescent bulbs,

Ian
I'd like to back up the use of red LED lights in the darkroom.

I only use one, but it is easily much brighter than the two Paterson lights that I used previously.

They barely use any power and are very cheap.

But, if you've set your heart on making some new holders, carry on.

As also stated, a safe light test once the lights and working, should be at the top of your list before you start printing again.

But most importantly, have fun!

Terry S
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Old 1st November 2019, 01:36 PM
Anon01 Anon01 is offline
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I use two of these, I re bought what I had 40 years ago and am happy


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  #10  
Old 1st November 2019, 01:52 PM
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Bob Bob is offline
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I have about 60 safelights...



i.e. a strip of red LED tape glued to a 2m strip of aluminium angle so I can adjust it. Gives very even light, but very red so I'm planning to add some orange (eventually).

Also, I very much agree about testing your safelighting using one of the proper tests.
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