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Exposure Unit OPINIONS please

851 Views 5 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  Custommods, 
C
I have a question, I'm going to be making a home-made exposure unit and was wondering what you guys think, Hallogen 500w Light , or 4x Blacklights and a simple square exposure unit? what do you guys think is going to be more accurate?

I just dont want to make one and regret not making the other so what would you guys make if you could "go back" to when you were starting. Please and thank you :)!
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calhtech
Custommods said:
I have a question, I'm going to be making a home-made exposure unit and was wondering what you guys think, Hallogen 500w Light , or 4x Blacklights and a simple square exposure unit? what do you guys think is going to be more accurate?

I just dont want to make one and regret not making the other so what would you guys make if you could "go back" to when you were starting. Please and thank you :)!
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Space is a big issue for me so it is the reasoning for my setup. I use a 500w halogen mounted on a foldup handtruck (dolly). Its a portable setup that I am able to move out of the way quickly. Its a real simple setup and it works very reliably. I use Saati Chem Textil PV, my light is 20" above the screen, for 5min 10sec. When I'm done, I tuck the light down, the wheels fold in and I stick the unit in a corner. Not sexy but it works. :)

CalhTech>
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sben763
I started out with a 500w halogen with diazo. Took 7-11 min depending on coating, mesh and so on. Then switched to Blacklight unit. Much faster but edges could become irregular if over exposed due to under cutting. Diazo was 5-7 min. I started with photopolymer emulsion here. And exposure went to 1:30-3:00. The black light actually worked really well with simulated process as it controlled the dot gain without any controls in place. I have switched to a 1000w metal halide. Exposure is 45-1:30 and image is very sharp. I have to add dot gain controls as there is no under cutting.

Any light source will work but the stronger sources work best. All can create great screen and prints bug it all in the testing and proper setup of your source.
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C
sben763 said:
I started out with a 500w halogen with diazo. Took 7-11 min depending on coating, mesh and so on. Then switched to Blacklight unit. Much faster but edges could become irregular if over exposed due to under cutting. Diazo was 5-7 min. I started with photopolymer emulsion here. And exposure went to 1:30-3:00. The black light actually worked really well with simulated process as it controlled the dot gain without any controls in place. I have switched to a 1000w metal halide. Exposure is 45-1:30 and image is very sharp. I have to add dot gain controls as there is no under cutting.

Any light source will work but the stronger sources work best. All can create great screen and prints bug it all in the testing and proper setup of your source.
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Would you say that using the 1000w metal halide makes the process "easiest" and provides better results?
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sben763
better results and quicker. Doesn't change any of the difficulties although if building a unit a metal halide will require a shutter as they require a warm up period
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C
sben763 said:
better results and quicker. Doesn't change any of the difficulties although if building a unit a metal halide will require a shutter as they require a warm up period
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I see, I believe im going to be starting with a backlit system for now. Can you please just review the plans i have and let me know if you see anything wrong with it, I would really appreciate it :D

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