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11/20/2003 Entry: "test drive"

The paint dried, the fixtures were mounted, the wiring run, lamps installed and it looked like the UV light source was ready to go. Last night seemed as good a time as any to take it out for a test drive. Using one of the Delta 100 negs from the LF group shoot a few weeks ago and some Fabriano Uno paper coated with Photographer's Formulary Classic Cyanotype emulsion, I took it out for a quick spin around the block.

Printing time was a little slower than in full summer sunlight but well within my patience limits. 12 minutes under the light bank was enough to get a nice deep blue in the shadows. I'm not sure if it was the film or the light source, but the tonal range in this one came out particularly well, with a nice spread in the midtones.

It looks like the home grown UV printer is a go! A few days of rough carpentry and less than a hundred bucks in materials and I can now do alt-process printing without waiting for a sunny day. I'll take some photos of the unit and write up a short bit on how it went together in the next few days. The info may come in handy for someone looking for a cheap way to build one.

Posted by tyd @ 11/24/2003 08:37 PM ET