Serious problems with PFG-01

On: Fri, Jan 25, 02 07:54:56 AM

Thilo K. wrote:

I have serious problems with PFG-01. The images I have done with Agfa 8E75 before were quite bright. Though I´m using a new-but-used and stronger laser (ca. 6mW HeNe) and longer exposure times, images have never been as bright as they had been with agfa. I was used to light 30 secs with a 2mW HeNe. Now I have to expose more than 2 Minutes. Thus could anyone please enumerate his/her knowledge about PFG-01 concerning exposure(times etc.) and, possibly, developing to support me ? Bye Thilo
RESPONSES

Colin Kaminski - Fri, Jan 25, 02 04:41:29 PM

Thilo, The easiest method to get a idea of the exposure times for your set up is to make a test plate. Put masking tape in stripes on your test plate. Expose each strip a different amount. With a 6mw laser and a single beam reflection set up try 10 sec, 20 sec, 30 sec and 45 secs. This should get you into the range. I would expect 20 or 30 seconds to yield a gold image. That is my favorite exposure time. I have included the JD-2 instructions from Dr. Jeong. I always use a single beam reflection set up when I am trying new film or developers. It reduces the number of variables. JD-2 Solution A JD-2 Distilled Water 100 Deg. F 750 ml Catechol 20 grams Ascorbic Acid 10 grams Sodium Sulfite 10 grams Water 68 Deg. F to make 1 liter Solution B Distilled Water 100 Deg. F 800 ml Sodium Carbonate, Anhyd. 60 grams Water 68 Deg. F to make 1 liter Mix equal parts A and B just before development. Mix enough for one hologram only. ( I have developed 3, But the first one is best) Bleach Distilled Water 68 deg. F 750 ml Potassium Dichromate 5 grams Sodium Bisulfate 80 grams Water 68 deg. F to make 1 liter Dissolve potassium dichromate completely before adding sodium bisulfate. The bleach can be used for a long time. At least 5 months shelf life. Develop 2 minutes Rinse 3 minutes Bleach till clear (less than two minutes) Rinse Photo flo Air dry 64.170.193.81

Thilo K. - Sat, Jan 26, 02 07:38:36 AM

Hello Colin. Thank you for your answer. Something you could not know was that I don´t like developers which consist of two parts. Do you know a developer a) which consists of only one solution ? b) which can be used for at least two or three months without noticable deterioration of the resulting images ? What I mean is that the developing time to get the same image brightness should be nearly constant within that time. Thank you in advance 145.254.228.35

Ton - Mon, Jan 28, 02 07:29:40 AM

Thilo, I once also wanted a 1 part developer, but ended up with the JD-developer as Colin describes. And I must say: it's EASY used !!! Stocklife (as I observed) at least 6 months, just before exposure of the plate you mix 50 ml from one bottle and 50 ml from the other bottle, this is enough to develop one 4''x5'' film/plate. Resulting hologram: EXCELLENT !! So all 40 plates, kept, exposed etc. under the same conditions all have the same brightness. 198.141.197.3

Thilo - Mon, Jan 28, 02 01:13:46 PM

Ton, of course, you´re right: the quality of 2 part developers is better in most cases. But just consider the waste of money. To develop five films you have to buy two glasses containing 250ml of fluid. For only twenty films two full litres of fluid are neccessary - that costs a packet. Recently, a professional holographer told me that he was using a one-part developer. Due to his status as a professional in this area he can not afford decreasing image quality. But he did not tell me the formula. Because of that claiming, I ask you if you know any one- part developer formula, that meets this condition. BTW: I think I can trust him in this field. Thanks in advance 145.254.230.50

Thilo - Mon, Jan 28, 02 01:15:45 PM

... meets the condition I mentioned above ... 145.254.230.50

Martin - Fri, Feb 01, 02 03:01:16 AM

Agfa's paper developer Neutol, based on hydroquinone and phenidone, works very well with PFG-01. It has excellent shelf life (up to several years). To make a working solution, Neutol has to be diluted 1:10. 62.2.131.133

Thilo K. - Sat, Feb 02, 02 07:54:15 AM

Martin, thank you for your answer. BTW: Do you have to dilute Neutol in distilled water or normal water ? Thilo 145.254.229.124

Thilo K. - Sat, Feb 02, 02 07:59:55 AM

Is it true, that PFG-01 won´t reach the brightness of any commercial hologram ? 145.254.229.124

Colin - Sat, Feb 02, 02 01:38:07 PM

What comercial hologram did you have in mind? If you want the brightest replay in white light then you should try some rainbow holograms. They will never have the efficiency of DCG but you can get close especially if you try some of the SHSG formulations. 64.170.194.67

Jean Dufrasne - Sat, Feb 02, 02 05:20:11 PM

Thilo, For a one part developer for PFG-01 (film or plate): Ilford Paper developer (contents hydroquinone, DTPA Na5, potassium bromide) Dilued 1 part developer in 10 parts water. Always use distilled water to make your chemistry (you can use deionized water too, but I prefer pure water). I don't know the time life of the concentrate developer (notice says 24 month in full airtight bottle or 6 month in half-full thightly capped bottle). In Canada, 500 ml costs 4.99 canadian dollars. This developer works for reflection holograms, I don't know for transmission holograms. Must be tested. Process time : 2 min. (same as JD-2) Rinse 3-5 min. Bleach bath from JD-2 : until clear (max 2 min.) Rinse 3 min. Water + photoflo : 1-2 min. Naturaly dry (not forced) Good luck. Jean D 216.138.209.204

Jean Dufrasne - Sun, Feb 03, 02 06:11:38 AM

I'm so sorry guys. I've changed my mind about Ilford paper developer. Apparently, we can not get the same brightness get with JD- 2. I never got the same darkness when process the film... even with same setup (distance, angle, exposure time), seems that density with Ilford is too low. Once again, sorry about this. It is probably 'a beginner mistake' :-) Jean D 216.138.209.204

Thilo K. - Thu, Feb 07, 02 06:07:28 PM

Colin, you wrote: "SHSG formulations" - what do you mean ? 145.253.2.238

Colin - Thu, Feb 07, 02 10:03:10 PM

I do not have any recipes typed in for Silver Halide Sensitized Gelatin but it is a process where all of the silver is removed during developing and leaves a scatter free phase based playback medium. I have no experience with it but it is supposed to be ideal for making HOEs with a red laser. Silver Halide Recording Materials has some good information. If you contact me at colinsk@pacbell.net I will mail you a photo-copy of the relevent pages. 64.170.193.19

Martin - Fri, Feb 08, 02 12:38:07 PM

Due to the rather large grain size of the PFG-01 emulsion (about the same as in Agfa's 8E75), the choice of the developer is not cut clear. There will be many products that fit with that emulsion. The numberless tests on Agfa material we carried out over the years showed, there was no evidence to favor one special kind of developer. CW-C2, ascorbic acid developers like PAAP, D-19 or Neutol etc. worked equally fine. However, regarding image brightness, the differences from one batch to another proved to be much more important. I guess in the case of PFG-01 this might also be considered. 62.2.50.39

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