How to expose screens

we get lots of inquiries about How to expose screens using LED light from people who are building their own exposure units.

Since traditional 'high UV' light sources (metal halide and mercury vapor lamps) for 'home made' exposure units are becoming harder to find,

we have found some LED lights sources that are affordable, safe to use and will work effectively for exposing screens.

​Before we discuss LED light sources, we need to discuss some important details regarding light sources in general when building your own  exposure unit.

and more difficult to implement into a typical home-made exposure unit. As a result, you don't see them used as often.

As we have written in a previous article on light sources for exposure units,

If you think of emulsion (or capillary film) as the 'photographic film' used to make your stencil, think in terms of speed and light sensitivity.

Photopolymer emulsion is very sensitive to light.

when you have a low UV light source will make a huge difference toward success or failure when making a stencil.

LED lights are becoming more and more popular and look to become the lighting standard in USA.

• Relatively affordable to purchase.
• Safe to use (they generate very little heat).
• Very economical to operate.
• They last a long time.

LED light sources that have a high lumen output work best for exposing screens

and we found several that will work well as a light source when you are building your own exposure unit.

ASPA has created a short report 'The Best LED Lights for Exposure Units.'  In this report, we identify what light sources work best and where to buy them.  For more on our report, visit this page.