Creating a safe light room for exposing screens

[chestercheeto48]

Hi all - First let me apologize if this is somewhere already on the forum but I thought I would start my own thread. Secondly I would like to introduce myself. I am a Tech. Ed. teacher located in Wisconsin who has been tasked with building an Innovation Center or "Fab Lab" in our school to house all of our cool technology in one space. I have some experience with screen printing as we ran some projects in my classes over the years. I have a 4 screen press with UV exposure unit.

My question is this. Can I use any run of the mill red/yellow tint on my large windows from my classroom into the lab or does it have to be "special"? Currently I have 5 windows from my computer lab that are roughly 42x60 inches in height. I had some red film on my windows before but it was very opaque. I am looking for something that allows clear visibility while still blocking out the UV light that can potentially expose my screens prematurely while washing them out. I know yellow and red are conventional safe light colors but are there others that can be used? Our schools colors are purple/white and if I could get a purple tint that might be cool too.

Currently we used the ambient light through the tint to light the lab while exposing and washing screens. It worked well and was plenty of light. I just need to replace the tint with something with more visibility from lab to classroom and vice versa.

Thanks in advance!

[Printficient]

Rubylith.

[Frog]

How about shades or blinds on the windows? If these screens are stored in another light safe cabinet until exposure, how about just shutting down the light when needed?
What type of electric lights do you presently have? Flo tubes can be sleeved with UV filters, some of which, I believe appear clear. Otherwise, how about just enough added filtered light, only when  needed? during coating and ( way more importantly) when being readied for exposure.

[Maxie]

http://www.uvprocess.com/product.asp?code=FILTER+++I

These guys have everything you need.

[jsheridan]

That is a lot of window space and frankly.. Working in a dark red, orange or yellow too is quite annoying.
You can use clear plexiglass that is 99.9% UV blocking (I've used it in a large screen as the "window" and keeps the light bright and natural.

Rather than block out all your windows, You may want to use a screen cabinet to store your coated screens in, easier to keep a small cabinet light proof that an entire room.

have fun!

[Sbrem]

Rubylith.

Rubylith may be too dark, try Amberlith, also from Ulano...
and welcome aboard.

Steve

[Frog]

Rubylith.

Rubylith may be too dark, try Amberlith, also from Ulano...
and welcome aboard.

Steve

Discontinued in 2007.

[RICK STEFANICK]

Rubylith.

Rubylith may be too dark, try Amberlith, also from Ulano...
and welcome aboard.

Steve

lol..remember photo strip?

Discontinued in 2007.

[3Deep]

I'm with Frog pull down a shade and keep coated screens in a light safe box until you need to use them.

[mk162]

yeah, cover the windows when needed and use even a homebuilt cabinet.