whats up with my exposure set up??

[Dog on Fire]

I have been having nothing but trouble with my exposure set up thus far. I am using two 500 watt halogens about 30 inches above my 25x36, 230 yellow mesh screen. I started off with Ulano lx-660. did an exposure test and was successful with a 11 minute burn time. Burnt a screen with this time and it came out great. Next three attempts are a week later and they wash out completely. I figured I killed the emulsion letting it sit on a shelf in my garage in florida, or that the humidity was too high. Just got some murakami photocure pro which is supposed to work well in high humidity environments. Coated my screens and let them dry in the dark with a dehumidifier running. Did a step test with the new emulsion up to 30 min and everything washed out. Said fuck it and burnt the next screen for 45 minutes and the stencil came out perfect. Isn't this a ridiculously long burn time for my set up/ emulsion? any help would be great. Still don't understand how i went from 11 minutes to 45..sigh

[Andymac]

in Fla?

put it outside for 45-55 seconds facing full sun and then wash it quick, with no sunlight hitting the screen - treat it like it was a vampire. Garage door would make a good shutter. Or Put the screen and foam on a piece of plywood and hold the glass tight to your posi and walk it out a door.


this will give you a nice screen.

regarding the variation in time. who knows.

[squeegeethree]

30 inches may be too far away.

[boatdreams]

Also, Murakami Photo Pro is not a fast exposing emulsion. I've heard nothing but good things about it, though.

[Tom]

Yellow mesh is way harder to burn with diy exposure units. I had awful trouble so i just use white mesh now.

[boatdreams]

Tom, what is your light source and emulsion, if I may ask?
I have no problems with yellow, and my exposure unit is about as DIY as they come.

[B-DROID]

Yeah, I was burning yellow 230 mesh with a diy worklamp setup no problem. Sounds like you might be blaming your arrows, Kemosabe.

[Tom]

When I was exposing at home I was using Sericol Dirasol 915 emulsion with a 500w photoflood bulb at 15" above the stencil. Worked perfect everytime & had an exposure of 12 mins. Would not expose yellow mesh though. Ever!

Then I blew all my bulbs & cant get them anywhere so I use a pro exposure unit at my local print workshop now.

[Dog on Fire]

i really want to try exposing in the sun but it has been nothing but overcast the last week and a half. Soon as it clears up ill give it a shot. thanks andy