Re: Gra-lab timers and LEDs

["Stan Patz" <skp113@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

My darkroom is light tight enough to handle Tri-X without fogging,
but I haven't yet worked there with HIE or EIR yet. I've been using
changing bags to load and unload, but I'd love to handle it in the
open like my Tri-X. Should I be concerned about fogging from the
glowing lights of my Gra-Lab 300, or the LEDs on the radio (on a
shelf near the ceiling)?
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To Barry Bean and the group,

Last year there was a thread on fluorescents in the darkroom. Since I have 
had a fluorescent-lit darkroom for 30 years, I decided to do some new tests.

The fluorescents had no practical effect on any of my film - when off, of 
course. Glow tape and my Gra-Lab timer will fog film if it gets fairly 
close. But watch out for those red LEDs! They may not look so bright to the 
eye, but can fog film at a considerable distance.

Here is how I found out. A few years ago I had ocassional fogging on my 
color sheet film. It eventually occurred to me that the source was a digital 
clock (with red LEDs) on the other side of my darkroom, seven feet away. 
Since I usually loaded film at the same spot, I made a "shadow" with my 
body. But, if I un/loaded at a different place on my counter, I would get 
fog! It took me months to figure that one out.


Stan Patz   NYC

SKP113@xxxxxxxxxxx
www.PatzImaging.com

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