Darkroom Process Timer

[racoon31e]

Does anybody have any idea where to get a darkroom process timer?

Thanks.

[catchlights]

You want to timer connect to enlarger or just to use it for a processing film?

the timer to connect to enlarger should come together with enlarger.

as for timer to use on processing film, any digital clock with count down function will do, you can even use a cheap cheap casio digi watch if you don't want to spend to much money.

[racoon31e]

Nope, not an enlarger timer. Just one for processing film.

A noob question here - will the glow from a digital/analog clock affect the paper development?

Thanks.

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by racoon31e Nope, not an enlarger timer. Just one for processing film. A noob question here - will the glow from a digital/analog clock affect the paper development? Thanks.

it depends, maybe it will take about a few hours to a few days to fog the papers depends how bright is the glow.

[racoon31e]

Originally Posted by catchlights it depends, maybe it will take about a few hours to a few days to fog the papers depends how bright is the glow.

Thanks. 1 last thing - will wrapping the clock face with red cellophane paper help?

[frametology]

just get a dark bag and load your film in there. once it's inside, everything is light safe. so you can use anything to time your developing process.

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by racoon31e Thanks. 1 last thing - will wrapping the clock face with red cellophane paper help?

not necessary if the glow is only bright enough for you to read, but if cover it up makes you feel better and still able to read in the dark, then why not?

[Anjinnete Ross]

Originally Posted by frametology just get a dark bag and load your film in there. once it's inside, everything is light safe. so you can use anything to time your developing process.

Pardon me. I am confused.

What has loading the film in a dark bag got to do with a process timer?

[racoon31e]

Originally Posted by frametology just get a dark bag and load your film in there. once it's inside, everything is light safe. so you can use anything to time your developing process.

I have a dark bag...but I need a process timer to time the paper development too.

Originally Posted by catchlights not necessary if the glow is only bright enough for you to read, but if cover it up makes you feel better and still able to read in the dark, then why not?

Thanks

Originally Posted by Anjinnete Ross Pardon me. I am confused. What has loading the film in a dark bag got to do with a process timer?

I think what he meant was that after the film is loaded in the canister, it's no longer sensitive to light and hence there's no need to get a proper photo-safe darkroom process timer.

But besides developing the film, I print them also.

[GavinTing]

Originally Posted by Anjinnete Ross Pardon me. I am confused. What has loading the film in a dark bag got to do with a process timer?

I believe he is saying there is no need to get a special process timer, incase TS is afraid the timer may cause light problems with the film. As the film is in the bag, the light from the timer won't affect the film

[lightbrush]

Originally Posted by GavinTing I believe he is saying there is no need to get a special process timer, incase TS is afraid the timer may cause light problems with the film. As the film is in the bag, the light from the timer won't affect the film

TS is talking abt printing process rather than film development process.
For film development, you either use a changing bag or you need total darkness to get the film from the cartridge to the developing reel. Once the developing tank is closed, you can switch on light and start pouring in chemicals to develop.
For printing, you don't need total darkness. A couple of safelights will allow you to see what you are doing. Glow from timer will not affect the paper. A clock with seconds hand is more convenient to use to time the paper development.

[ellery]

Well if you want to spend 20 to 30 plus... look for any muli timers - picked up a single timer from DIY a couple of years back it was abt $15. Picked up a multi timer a casio from a small watch shop at Tg Pagar - u go figger on that was about $24 - 3 time ranges can be set - it counts down from the time set or you could use stop watch function.

Clock with lighted face or numerals in a darkroom - normally the clock needs to on the wall, perferably as far from the developer tray as possible. Anylight source should be placed as far away from the developer tray as possible for obvious reasons.

In case of doubt do a 30 sec, 60sec, 120sec,240sec light check test. Use a small piece of unexposed paper (just have a little margin around test object) use say a $1 coin as the test object. Place the coin on the paper , position the safe light/clock where you want to palce it, IN TOTAL DARKNESS position 4 pieces of paper with coin where the developer tray is ( u could place flat board over the tray and place the paper with coin on that), Start your timer at the same instance you power on the safelight/clock. At the end of 30sec take off coin and develop/stop bath/fix, ditto for another test print at 60sec and so on. Compare each developed test print - see if the there is a difference in tone from the shaded area under the coin and the area exposed to the ambient lights in the darkroom - if there is none then the light placement is lightsafe for those timings. Naturally if your exposure times are longer than 4 min you should run a check for that timing.

[racoon31e]

Originally Posted by lightbrush TS is talking abt printing process rather than film development process. For film development, you either use a changing bag or you need total darkness to get the film from the cartridge to the developing reel. Once the developing tank is closed, you can switch on light and start pouring in chemicals to develop. For printing, you don't need total darkness. A couple of safelights will allow you to see what you are doing. Glow from timer will not affect the paper. A clock with seconds hand is more convenient to use to time the paper development.

Thanks

Originally Posted by ellery Well if you want to spend 20 to 30 plus... look for any muli timers - picked up a single timer from DIY a couple of years back it was abt $15. Picked up a multi timer a casio from a small watch shop at Tg Pagar - u go figger on that was about $24 - 3 time ranges can be set - it counts down from the time set or you could use stop watch function. Clock with lighted face or numerals in a darkroom - normally the clock needs to on the wall, perferably as far from the developer tray as possible. Anylight source should be placed as far away from the developer tray as possible for obvious reasons. In case of doubt do a 30 sec, 60sec, 120sec,240sec light check test. Use a small piece of unexposed paper (just have a little margin around test object) use say a $1 coin as the test object. Place the coin on the paper , position the safe light/clock where you want to palce it, IN TOTAL DARKNESS position 4 pieces of paper with coin where the developer tray is ( u could place flat board over the tray and place the paper with coin on that), Start your timer at the same instance you power on the safelight/clock. At the end of 30sec take off coin and develop/stop bath/fix, ditto for another test print at 60sec and so on. Compare each developed test print - see if the there is a difference in tone from the shaded area under the coin and the area exposed to the ambient lights in the darkroom - if there is none then the light placement is lightsafe for those timings. Naturally if your exposure times are longer than 4 min you should run a check for that timing.

Thanks too


Now that I've got the replies I wanted, I'm closing this thread. Thanks for all the helpful replies!