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| Posted on 4/11/06 at 08:04 AM | |
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Hello PlastiSoul, Thank you for your question. All lights that emit UV will expose your photosensitive emulsions. This includes your fluorescent tubes and argon lamps. If you use an SBQ-sensitized emulsion a.k.a. pure photopolymer, one pot, or pre-sensitized, it’s sensitivity to UV is more acute. If you use a diazo sensitized type of emulsion that sensitivity to UV is not as great. This explains why SBQ type emulsions expose 4-8 times faster than diazo systems. In either case you need to block UV light at least up to 420 nanometers wavelength, if not up to 500 nanometers. There are filters that come in the form of sleeves, which can be slipped over your fluorescent tubes, or in the form of rolls, which can be placed over windows and other light fixtures. At KIWO, we use the Medium Yellow type sleeves. They are easier on your eyes than the darker yellow or orange colors, but still block up to 420 nanometers. The darker yellow or orange colors block UV up to 500 nanometers. You do not need to use the red filters. They have a much higher cutoff (615 to 625 nanometers) and are used for use with ortho films. You might want to contact you local supplier for sources of these UV filters. I hope this helps. Regards, Dave | |
  
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