making an exposure box
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making an exposure box
I am making an exposure box and was wondering what is better, unfiltered UV blacklights or 1000 watt metal halide light? or both. Please help. thank you
Exposure Unit
Although more expensive, your best choice is a single point light source. A bank of UV fluorescent lamps will give acceptable results for a start up shop, but they will cause undercutting. As you grow and look toward producing better quality prints you will want a point light source. A metal halide lamp is the prefered lamp for most emulsions that are in use today. Do not confuse the Metal Halide with the Quartz Halogen lamps. The Quartz Halogen lamp is not a good source for the UV that is needed. While you are at it, be sure to consider a vacuum system for much better contact.
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Metal Halide Lamp
You are looking for as much light as possible in the 350nm to 450nm range. This will give you the best results with todays emulsions.
Re: making an exposure box
All the emulsion manufacturers will supply you with a list of the bulbs that match up best with their emulsions. Each bulb is different. Fluorescent bulbs need to be withing a few inches of the screen, where metal Halide bulbs need to be set away from the screen equal to the distance of the diagonal measurement of your largest screen used on it.