Collodion darkroom LED safelights

One piece of feedback following the studio opening, a few weeks back, was that the plate development lighting could be improved.

Considering the ceiling is 3.8 metres high and the hanging mains safelights are a distance from the work area, fine for silver gelatine but difficult to see wt plate collodion development in hand. I thought I’d look to see what’s available “off the shelf,” so to speak.

There’s no mains power this side of the darkroom so I’ll be using a USB power bank similar to when working on location.

In the past, I’ve used bicycle red led rear lights, and they are fine for the confined space of a portable darkroom, but I wanted something a little more substantial.

I’m aware of the LED safelights mage by Mimmo in Italy, and I had tried one-off those when he first started producing them, but I found them too strong for close contact work. Great for illuminating a larger work space where the lamp is 1.5 to 2 metres from the plate.

But I wanted something in the immediate work area that’s not going to fog the plate, especially with my eyesight slowly deteriorating.

I’ve seen people install the long strips/tapes of led lights, but I also wanted something I could easily move around. So I bought two different monitor light bars? Supposedly for enhancing your viewing experience?

First one was £10. Its bright enough, with a multitude of colours and effects, controlled by a remote control only.

The second thinner strip for £12, is just as bright again with multiple colours and effects. This one controlled by remote control, an app on my phone or the inline switch. It also has a memory for the last setting, which is helpful.

I settled for the longer thin strip and secured it to the bottom of the shelf above the processing sink. Reflecting off the wall rather than direct as I found it glaring to the eyes.

It works a treat. There’s also an amber led to try with collodion.

The other light bar I’ll use in my portable darkroom in the van. The bicycle lights could do with an upgrade.