What do you platinum/palladium printers use for a light source. I know about the sun but I am looking for something a little quicker.

-- Harold Todman (htodman@aol.com), January 12, 1999

Answers

Um, supernova? :-)

To my knowledge, there is nothing practical or as quick as using the sun.

-- Brian C. Miller (a-bcmill@exchange.microsoft.com), January 12, 1999.

How about building a light box. There are several "how to" resources. One that I have in front of me is the Palladio Instruction Manual. Call them at 800-628-9618. They are a seller of pre-treatedpalladium papers among other things. They also sell ultra-violet exposure units with frames which can run from $500 (11x13) to $3000 (19x24). I also am pretty sure that Laura Blacklow's book "New Dimensions in Photo Imaging" also give direction on building a light box. They are relatively inexpensive to build and, in my opinion, are better than the sun in that you get a somewhat more predictable outcome.

-- gail (gail.green@sba.gov), January 19, 1999.

Several years back I played around with contact process printing in conjunction with screen printing. The screen printers have a large light unit for exposing the 'mask' for the screen which has a large sun-type light source and takes moments for exposure. Size and cost are beyond me but available thru colleges or perhaps a large screen printing business in your area. Another method is sun lamps. The kind used for at-home tanning. They need a warm up period to stabalize but are effective. Test strips are needed, of course, to establish a baseline time for contact printing. I was playing with Kodalith film which yielded a positive 'print' from a negative which I then contact printed to another Kodalith film for a negative. There's lots written about this process. It's possible to get a relatively even tone negative from the Kodalith but a little tricky because the film is designed for dropping out the mids and producing black and white which is great for screen printing but definately not a continuous tone negative. Ah well, the price we pay. Good luck.

-- Loren (loren@mnb.com), January 22, 1999.

for lots of info on platinum/palladium see my web page davidmichaelkennedy.com you might find the tech notes helpful as to exposure units: Mine is composed of 16 uri 36 inch 85 watt bulbs with internal reflectors. It is powered by 4 electronic 66 ice cap ballasts the bulbs are about 1/8 inch apart. this is built into a metal frame with fans and is on a metal riser system. Average exposure times about 3-5 mins as compared to 10-20 mins in sunlight. CONTACT ASK FOR DAVE IN MARINE DIV. BALLAST- TOP OF LINE ELECTRONIC 66 ICE CAP $184.00 HANDLES 4 TUBES TUBES ARE URI 36 INCH 85 OR 95 WATT SUPER ACTINIC BULB 20.75 EACH PART # FR30T12-03-VHO HAVE INTERNAL REFLECTOR MY LIGHT BOX HAS 16 3 FT. BULBS AND 4 BALLASTS THE BULBS ARE AS CLOSE TOGETHER AS POSSIBLE-PERHAPS 1/8 INCH APART MAKES CHANGING THEM DIFFICULT. THE COVERAGE (EXPOSURE AREA IS ABOUT 24X34 INCHES THE BULBS ARE 2 1/4 INCH ABOVE THE PRINT FOR 2 FT. BULBS SAME BALLAST THE BULB IS: 2 FT. FR20T12 SUPER ACTINIC VHO 20.00 75 WATT

-- David Michael kennedy (david@davidmichaelkennedy.com), January 22, 1999.

Check out www.nuarc.com for their catalog on Graphic Arts Exposure Units. I use to use a 20x24 Vaccum Frame with their Carbon Arc Lamp...exposures are in SECONDS if not a few minutes. They also manufacture completely self-contained Arc Lamp Exposure units with flip-tops...expensive NEW...but...you can find them listed by the dozens as Used Equipment in the Printing Industry publication ads. Call your nearest Graphic Arts House Supplier...or Silk Screen Printing Supplier...check the yellow pages...or do a Search on the Net...hope this is helpful. Heck...I even used the Vaccum Frame as a terrific Enlarger Easel/baseboard...(you can't get print paper flatter than THAT!)...Have fun!...ED.

-- ED Cherney (getrichkwik@webtv.net), April 15, 1999.

Nuarc and others also manufacture small table top plate burners that feature high output mercury vapor lamps, and safety shields that have to be in place before the lamp will light, to protect your eyes. Small print shops would be the most likely places to find them. Also check for sales and auctions of printing equipment in your location.

-- tony brent (ajbrent@mich.com), April 25, 1999.

I just finished a Platinum Printing workshop with Tom McCartney. Tom uses an Aristo Paltinum Printer he purchased from B&H for around $1000. It is an 11"x14" unit. It has fans and is comprised of a continuous serpentine continuous grid tube below glass. Most exposures seem to take 2-5 minutes.

-- Mike Kravit (mkravit@kravit.net), October 03, 1999.