UV LED Lights for Diazo and Photopolymer Photographic Emulsions

I wish to use these lights in an exposure system for diazo and photopolymer photographic emulsions. These emulsions are most responsive to UV wavelengths. We usually use metal halide lamps which are fairly high in shorter wavelengths but I think your UV lamps may be more effective. Given that these units will be used by novice fairly unskilled workers, will your UV lamps be safe for them to operate?

Generally speaking, it’s a bit difficult for us to provide assurances and guarantees regarding the safe use of ultraviolet LED products, as each installation and application can vary significantly. As such, we recommend consulting a UV safety expert if you have any further concerns about their use for your exposure system.

Both the 365 nm and 395 nm wavelengths fall under the UV-A wavelength range, which is a weaker form of ultraviolet radiation that is found in natural daylight so there are fewer concerns than other ultraviolet products that fall under the UV-B or UV-C wavelength ranges, for example.

That being said, below are some general safety guidelines that we would recommend following:

• The ultraviolet emitters have a very high intensity when used at a very short distance, but less so at longer distances. Therefore, ensuring that people or animals do not come in close proximity to the UV source can help reduce the risk of any eye safety issues.
• Ultraviolet energy is mostly invisible to the naked eye. It can be difficult for the vision system to recognize a high level of UV “brightness” and produce a natural response to squint or look away, in the way that natural white light would.

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