Building LED UV Exposure Unit for under $60 | Alternative Photography, Screen Printing, PCB...

This week I built myself an affordable UV Exposure box using LEDs and a plastic box. During short winter days there is not much sun here in Slovenia so it's really hard to work with techniques like cyanotype, salt, albumen, lith & carbon printing… This is why I have decided to build myself a 40x60cm UV LED exposure box. It's not just useful for us photographers that love alternative techniques but can also be used for screen printing, PCB making, Whitening and so on… I designed it in a way that it has two power levels so it can be adjusted if needed. Enjoy!
Link to the Blog post for more details on the build including LEDs I used: lostlightphoto...
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📷 GEAR I USED TO MAKE THIS VIDEO:
Canon M50
Lumix LX 15
🎶 MUSIC CREDITS:
Song 1: Prod. Riddiman -Tranquillity - Chill Lofi Hip Hop Beat
Song 2: ArthurItis - Translucent City Lights
Song 3: Chill Guitar Pop Beat | Good News by Riddick X Beats

[@skyhawk5983]

Great video and here is a PRO TIP: I would highly suggest anyone who plans on building this to spend a few dollars and buy connectors for the LED strips. I have years of experience in soldering but I wouldn't spend the time cutting/stripping 40 wires, tinning each end (80 in total) then soldering 40 connections to the end points of the light strips. This takes time even with experience! If something goes wrong you will need to diagnose which contacts are failing. Do a bad job and you could short out your lights. Buy connectors, they are cheap and you can be done in a fraction of the time. That being said, great video for anyone wanting to save money building an exposure unit vs spending $300+ dollars.

[@gabrielripa8171]

Congratulations! It is, by far, the most practical project on this topic that I found on Youtoube: simple tools and materials available to anyone. I think that an extremely simple timer would have made it even more practical. Congratulations again.

[@lostlightart6064]

Thanks Gabriel. Yes I will be adding the timer sooner than later :)

[@TheStockwell]

This is a brilliant video. If a person does not want to do it the way you did, it will give them ideas for making their own version. This is an excellent and very detailed presentation. ☺

[@lostlightart6064]

Thanks 😊

[@faizelali6070]

Good job

[@InssiAjaton]

Just a little tip. If you look at your pliers, you see one side consists of two wedges, while the other side has two, essentially parallel surfaces. Makes very little difference in cutting the wire, but peeling the insulation is different. The direction you used causes squeezing of the insulation, making it to try sticking. Turning the pliers the other way pushes the loose end along easier! Try it!

[@vs9400]

That's fantastic. Thank you for this video.

[@lostlightart6064]

You are welcome :)

[@scmassey]

Best video on the subject. I needed more close up soldering info and you provided. Thanks

[@lostlightart6064]

Thanks man. When I looked for my design that was the thing I missed as well...

[@Mouse7575]

👍 nice exposure unit. FYI , M&R makes a wide range of exposure units , using metal hilede, quartz or carbon ark. In table top units/with vacuum table or projector style. Not selling just letting you know you have other resources. Good to have you back.

[@marionjoy9475]

amazing

[@lostlightart6064]

Thank you :)

[@NickVenture1]

Thank you. Again I ended up on your channel to learn something useful.

[@dpoluektov]

Great! Thank you! The last time I tried to use the UV bulb - and burned it. I think I have to try your way.

[@lostlightart6064]

You are welcome!

[@XavierTheBat]

One of the better videos of this type (after admittedly just a brief low-level search) - do any screenprinters here know which are the best LEDS for exposing Diazo photo-emulsion?

[@cedmuscat]

Excellent work, thanks for making it available!

[@lostlightart6064]

You are welcome 🤗

[@Claaasic]

This is awesome! I’d love to see some prints you made with this!!

[@lostlightart6064]

Thanks. I mostly upload them on my Instagram @lostlightart :)

[@Raychristofer]

Great production quality bro, found you on alternative photography FB group

[@lostlightart6064]

Thanks man appreciate it 🤗

[@chiragpradhan]

Great job 👏🏼

[@lostlightart6064]

Thanks 🤗

[@billhackley3540]

using intrepid cameras you'll be somewhat familiar. their enlarger offerings have a built in contrast adjustment from grade 00 to 5 but their light source doesn't have the proper nanometers to use the 5, requires low 400''s to work properly. this would be perfect. actually looked at these this morning

[@ateles40]

Great video, thanks! Can you explain how you connected the two power adapters from each strip to one single plug? I am building a bigger lamp that will use four strips (and thus four adaptors!) and I want to be able to connect them in a similar way to how you did it with only one plug. Thank you!

[@mhaustria]

nicely done!! love it

[@WyattHerbivore]

Man, I love this! Thank You so much! I would love to go even further to make this box but make it rechargable battery-operate! Thoughts on how this could be done?? Thanks again thhis awesome DIY video! I need something this stong and big but portable with my mobile business.

[@oliviaspencer-bower8864]

Hi, great video thank you. Are your power adapters 12V - 3A? And you use one of these for 5m's of LED Strip. Is this sufficient?

[@customelectronics]

Thank you for posting. What exposure time is needed for your unit? I have built similar. Thank you. Mike

[@HelmetVanga]

For silk exposure would have been nice to put safe light like dim orange or yellow to see the film positives, adjust then start with the UV light exposure.

[@Marius_CN]

Bonjour très bonne vidéo merci

[@lostlightart6064]

Thanks 🤗

[@mollypix]

Does the unit get hot? Thanks

[@sabrinapl344]

Hey, I've just built a very similar exposure box but all my prints are super blurry, I don't understand what's going on (never had this issue before with the sun nor with my small face tanning light I use to expose cyanotype) . Do you have any clue why? Any help would be much appreciated :) thanks!

[@TheBizzyBScience]

Excellent vid , Do you have a link to the less and wires used?

[@aq3018]

From where we can get this

[@VeniVidiVici444]

Please link where to buy all of the stuff.

[@HelmetVanga]

Why does it have to be strip light? What is the quality benefit? You can fin uv light already built w30 or w60.

[@HelmetVanga]

The power supply looks British electrical parts by the 2 prongs.

[@cullenaustin]

After 2 yrs do you feel its kept its quality for alt or has dimned from wear and tear?

[@pierluigisecatore5175]

hello, good work! one question... you think that the 3528 led can be ok? Maybe I can put double of led strip....

[@lesleytreloarpersonal]

Great video I am going to attempt making one now, can you please can you give me the dimesions of box depth width and length?

[@lostlightart6064]

Thanks. Its 40x60x10cm

[@lesleytreloarpersonal]

@@lostlightart6064 thank you :)

[@Dtag1971]

Man thats a great build. The only thing I would have added was a timer. Just curious.... Whats your exposure time on a photopolymer emulsion. 1.5 millaseconds? Great job.

[@lostlightart6064]

Thanks. I build it for alternative photography like Cyanotypes, Salt Prints... so cant help you sorry

[@denisundanna]

Is the exposure evenly spread or do you get light irregularities?

[@graceli9367]

Does any one use this light box for anthotype print using turmeric?

[@HelmetVanga]

why and how do you decide to use 2 power brick units?

[@fireeyeland]

Why did you not run the cables outside the box ? Great vid btw

[@lostlightart6064]

Interesting question. Obviously I have an OCD and like to make things look clean and sleek on the outside at least🤷‍♂️

[@stepanivanov3557]

Hi, is your exposure uniform? I noticed that led strips get hotter near the end which is connected to power source. So they might shine a bit brigter on that side. Do you notice any issues with that?

[@davidteichner7071]

Why cut and solder when you can bend the led strips?

[@marshpw]

What kind of solder did you use?

[@muppas82]

This is great! I built one back in college using 24-inch T12 bulbs. It does the job, but it's bulky and ugly and I've been thinking about building a new one that I can build underneath my enlarger table so it's more out of the way. What kind of print times are you able to get with this setup? I've been debating between going with the 395nm LED strips or the 365nm. But the 365nm are crazy expensive. The tradeoff is that many processes are apparently a bit more sensitive to the shorter wavelength light, but I'm not sure it's worth the cost.

[@lostlightart6064]

It depends between 12-15min for cyanotypes 😉 Haven't tested them yet with other techniques...

[@jjualvare]

Great video, I've learned a lot from it. What is the name of the manufacture, or where did you buy the on/off switch? I live in the states and I would like to know if have this type of switch. Thanks.

[@danielb.7165]

Great video! Than you. One question. Why you chose 395-405nm? Many say that the optimum for cyanotypes is 365.

[@lostlightart6064]

You are welcome. Mostly because of the price :)

[@danielb.7165]

@@lostlightart6064 does it work ok for you? Are you satisfied with the results?

[@lostlightart6064]

Yes it works

[@Littlemakz]

could this be used for making screen print exposure box?

[@lucaballotta6461]

Very good job! I have a question, how have you calculated the distance between the led strips? I think that emission of each strip in longitudinal section is more or less a triangle. How can you be sure that the distance is ok, to not have too much overlap or too small?

[@lostlightart6064]

I tested the distance first before selecting the box

[@latentimagelabhk]

I built one in a4 size like you❤

[@barneywop]

Can this be used to ice the soles on sneakers ?

[@tabiusmccoy3598]

Did you need a glass plate to go on top?

[@lostlightart6064]

On top of?

[@josephgunter188]

Hey man ive been looking through the internet for awhile and im wondering how do you make the led lights themselves ive got a couple of projects i would like to complete and not enough money to buy some of the supplies so a lot of the times i need to make it ive seen people just use markers and tape and put it over a regular flashlight but im not to sure thats to acuratte i need something that will dry uv resin and actually produce uv wavelengths if you could help me out with this you dont know how grateful id be frfr

[@maksymveres422]

Great video! pls tell me the exposure time for such box? thnks

[@lostlightart6064]

10-20min

[@maksymveres422]

@@lostlightart6064 thanks 🙏

[@norafodil2496]

Hello, thank's for scharing. I have a question. Your reflective tape is it in alluminium? Thanks :)

[@lostlightart6064]

No this one is plastic but aluminum is good as well 😉

[@norafodil2496]

@@lostlightart6064 Merci :)

[@laughingthrushmusic5269]

What kind of glass did you use?

[@lostlightart6064]

Any kind of glass will work just make sure it doesnt have UV blocking film 😉

[@jesusislord2149]

What gauge was the black and red wires?

[@jimkozikis892]

What is distance from the LEDs to the screen.

[@lostlightart6064]

Around 10-12cm

[@TPToE]

Have you tried making cyanotype prints with your UV box? Looking at the LED strip in the link, the wavelength appears to be 395-405nm, which I've heard is too high for cyanotype print exposure.

[@lostlightart6064]

I did and it worked without any problem ;) There is also a video about me making contact prints with this box

[@TPToE]

@@lostlightart6064 Do you have any theories about why this woman's UV light didn't produce a usable exposure? kzbin.info/www/bejne/e2fVn6N8a5Z2gbs&t She seemed to think it was the wavelength of the light (which is the same as your UV source).

[@scmassey]

Can you explain a bit more the place where you soldered? I have never soldered before and I have only seen it done on the cooper dots. You said something about desolderig?

[@lostlightart6064]

Sure. You cut the strips to lenght and connect the pins on each end of the strip. You are wiring negative pin from strip one to negative pin on strip 2. The same goes for the positive pin. You repeat that on the other side. By doing that you connect the strips into a long line 😉

[@scmassey]

@@lostlightart6064 Thanks for your response I do understand that. What I am asking is about the "pin". I understood that you use the copper points which you cut in half. I think you said something about the silver "pins" that are raised. Do you treat them like copper? As you can see I don't even know the basics! You have been kind to help.

[@lostlightart6064]

@@scmassey Don't worry I am happy to help. The pin connectors on the strips are made of copper and when soldering it makes the solder stick to them. So first you add some solder to the pins and the wires you tend to use and then you can easily fuse them together using hot iron. I hope it answers your question :)

[@klasgelinder]

Hi, thanks for this video! Did you use only half of them or do you mostly use both strips?

[@lostlightart6064]

Thanks. Both 99% of the times 😉

[@mtripoli]

Do you have a slower version of the especially from the 4:40 mark to the end, I could not see how you are hooking up the power sources and the switches to both the board and the box.

[@gypsies0184]

If you click on the Settings gear at the bottom of the video, you can select slower speeds to watch any video - at .25, .5 or .75 full speed. (also faster which is useful for a lot of videos where people talk too much!)

[@Iskandar19898]

Great Video! I want to try to build one too. After a year what can you say about this led system? did some of the led burn? it's efficient? They will last some years?

[@lostlightart6064]

Hey. Thanks. Yes everything still works like the first day

[@Iskandar19898]

@@lostlightart6064 how long it takes for a cyanotype?

[@lostlightart6064]

It depends from the density of the negative of course but between 7-20min

[@kingofpirates4039]

how do we know it works?

[@earlymusicmaker]

Thanks a bunch for posting this. What kind of exposure times are you getting for cyanotype (or whatever process you are using)? Thinking of building something similar. Thanks!

[@lostlightart6064]

Hey. My exposure times for cyanotypes are between 7-12min depending on the density of the negative

[@earlymusicmaker]

@@lostlightart6064 Thanks!

[@jjualvare]

I noticed at 4:59 of the video, top right hand side two of the strips are not soldered, I don't have experience in electronics, but is that because it's the end of the line for power?

[@lostlightart6064]

Hello Juan, Led strips have + and - wire running all the way from one end to the other and they meet in each of the leds this is why there is no need to connect the ends ;)

[@latentimagelabhk]

There is an adapter to connect the led together, should be more easier

[@jclaytonphotography7352]

Does your light box still work? How did the light strips hold up after use?

[@lostlightart6064]

Yes still working no problems

[@slotown1978]

Hi. What is the height of the box?

[@lostlightart6064]

Around 10-12cm

[@topsecret4791]

NO PARTS LINKS !!

[@faisolbae6645]

How much is it

[@jjualvare]

how long are the black and red wires, I estimate about 2 inches or 5cm?

[@lostlightart6064]

Yeah something like that

[@karloklanac5519]

so how long does your exposure time end up being? i know its surely a few different numbers depending on the needs and the negative types but i am still curious as to how it ends up being? inače puno pozdrava iz susjedne hrvatske i rispekt za sav rad!

[@lostlightart6064]

Zdravo Karlo. Exposure time for cyanotypes ranges from 8 to 15 min at full power. Hvala 🙌

[@beferdugetachew252]

can i use it for rubber stamp???🙏

[@lostlightart6064]

I dont know as I am not familiar withe the technique

[@JoseIgnacioCabral1]

This looks awesome! I’d love to make one myself. I have a legit question. Have you ever needed to use half power? Or should I just make it full power and modify exposure time as needed?

[@lostlightart6064]

Yes half power comes in handy very often as it gives you more time/control over the contrast 😉

[@eberhardmuller637]

I cannot see where your timer is ... please explain - otherwise good video

[@lostlightart6064]

I use my timer on the phone. But it would be a nice upgrade to this setup!

[@faisolbae6645]

Harga lampu UV nya berapa

[@jpcgordon]

Do you have any videos of you using this? Would love to see some results.

[@lostlightart6064]

Yes its on my channel

[@leighthacker2029]

Do you sell these? 20x24 in led light box. How much? I can't build it myself.

[@lostlightart6064]

Hey. I dont unfortunately

[@wkho2164]

hi, may i know the specification of the ledstrips? thanks.

[@lostlightart6064]

Hey. Yes sure here is the link: www.amazon.de/gp/product/B07PLX3PVM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[@Normanskie]

5*

[@lostlightart6064]

Thanks :)

[@Scrogan]

Now put an LCD atop it

[@dashodelamacchia]

Hello. Is there any reason for the distance of 10-12cm between light source and sensitive paper? I remember the UV tubes for the screenprinting exposure were used to place at a certain distance. If too far or too near could create exposure issues, but I can't find any info about it. Any help? Thanks.

[@tnp651]

If the strips are too close you will see stripes where the panel is dark between the LEDs. The only problem with more distance is that exposure times are longer.

[@DanRPratt]

Great build! Where did you buy the project box?

[@lostlightart6064]

Thanks! In a local hardware store 😉

[@DanRPratt]

@@lostlightart6064 Darn. It’s weirdly difficult to find an appropriate plastic box for a project like this. Although, sometimes I feel like I’m not searching for the correct terms... Is there a manufacturer name on your box?

[@lostlightart6064]

@@DanRPratt Yeah its the brand of the store I bought it from called Bauhaus. It is a box orientated more towards industrial needs I would say. A bit thicker and stronger...

[@luciakemkova9694]

hey! have you tried if it actually works? are the led lights 395 nm? @lostlightart6064