Didymium Filter = Red Enhancer? Photograhing Glass Blowing

Kind of an off beat type of photography, but my brother is a glass blower and would like me to take some "action" shots of him working. After a bit of research, I have learned that the expensive glasses he uses are didymium coated. A Google search of "didymium filter" revealed that didymium is the coating used in Red Enhancer filters like this B+W 491 Enhancing Filter LINK.

Now, when looking at didymium glasses like the following:

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'text/html' | Byte size: ZERO

It's also the coating in "blue intensifier" filters as well. Might be more of what you are looking for...?

http://www.normancamer​a.com …E-INTENSIFIER-FILTER.html

http://store.uniquepho​to.com …s=29&zmac=65&zm​ap=HYL5210

I don't really know much about glass blowing, but a person over at dpreview asked the same question in January 09 and was speaking about dealing with the "sodium flare". I didn't see a reply, but might be helpful...

http://forums.dpreview​.com …rum=1014&messag​e=30603710

-Chuck

Thanks Chuck, much appreciated! I'll look into this info.

Anyone else have anything, please feel free to contribute.

Found another link with a google search for "how to photograph glass blowing"...
http://dslrcanon.blogs​pot.com …aphing-glass-blowing.html

Doesn't really mention any filters, but if there indeed is "sodium flare" it's probably blue hence the reason for the protective eyewear.... but I would first see the difference first hand with the glasses on and off.... and I might want to look through a nd filter as well. My suspicion is the coating filters out a color and intensity of light so a glass blower can work, rather than a "secret" look... Good luck.
Please post if you find anything else... Now I'm curious as well.

Okay... I really have to get a life. Here are really good links to what the glasses actually do and what the different colors actually do... yes they also have the red glasses as well.
http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/Didymium
http://www.sundancegla​ss.com/didymiumsr.htm
And a NIOSH report as well:
http://www.cdc.gov …s/pdfs/1998-0139-2769.pdf

I guess I'm really curious what they do... and now I know.

Awesome work! Thank you! Now that youve brought it to my attention, the blue filter does sound like it makes more sense seeing as how due to the heat of the torch flame it is more blueish. As does the idea that the filter is actually used to lessen the intensity of the blues which when coming from a hot flame are pretty darn blueish. I have also seen purpleish tinted glass blowing glasses, which Im guessing could be both red and blue "enhancers" or intensity reducers since when the temperature of the flame is reduced, it does get more orange and red.

jrsamples wrote in post #10769156
Found another link with a google search for "how to photograph glass blowing"...
http://dslrcanon.blogs​pot.com …aphing-glass-blowing.html

Doesn't really mention any filters, but if there indeed is "sodium flare" it's probably blue hence the reason for the protective eyewear.... but I would first see the difference first hand with the glasses on and off.... and I might want to look through a nd filter as well. My suspicion is the coating filters out a color and intensity of light so a glass blower can work, rather than a "secret" look... Good luck.
Please post if you find anything else... Now I'm curious as well.

Yea the photog who posted this probably didnt need them as all those shots where with no flame. If you want to photograph work being done inside the flame its a bit of a different situation. Never the less this was still a good find! Thanks!

Hi there,

I am in the same situation at the moment. I am a glass worker attempting to take some photos to create tutorials.

The sodium-flare is a bright orange flare and is filtered out by the indigo lens in the glasses. It only really happens with the glass in the flame - not with it being worked at bench etc.
The didydium glass is Phillips 202 (ACE) and it is possible to buy the glass as sheet glass or as a screen on a flexible stand.
I'm not sure if I am allowed to mention suppliers as I only signed up today but google the type of glass and you will find it.

Cheers,

Mick

m_j_reilly wrote in post #10776420
Hi there,

I am in the same situation at the moment. I am a glass worker attempting to take some photos to create tutorials.

The sodium-flare is a bright orange flare and is filtered out by the indigo lens in the glasses. It only really happens with the glass in the flame - not with it being worked at bench etc.
The didydium glass is Phillips 202 (ACE) and it is possible to buy the glass as sheet glass or as a screen on a flexible stand.
I'm not sure if I am allowed to mention suppliers as I only signed up today but google the type of glass and you will find it.

Cheers,

Mick

Awesome Mick! Yea sounds like you and I are in the same boat then. Yes it's okay to post links and name manufacturers here. If you know where I could get say a 4" x 6" or 4" x 4" sheet of the filter glass that'd could work with a Lee Foundation Kit and I'd be set! Post what you know of. Thanks!

Ah, okay, this is starting to make more sense now. I found this info here: LINK, as well as a couple of different sized sheets of the stuff I want. Not cheap though, and being that the closest I can find to 4x6 is 4.5x5, Im not sure Ill be able to use a Cokin or Lee system to mount it in front of a lens.

ACE Lenses
From left to right: ACE, Green ACE #3, Green ACE #5
The actual color of the lens will look different when viewing incandescent verses fluorescent light, as well as on different computer monitors.

Whether you know them as AV 2000, Phillips 202, or one of several other trade names, ACE is the name Schott calls their most popular lampworking filter lens. ACE exceeds light filtering in the UV (ultra violet), near IR (infrared) and sodium flare spectrums than the old rose didymium lenses. Sodium flare is the bright yellow orange light that hot glass produces while in the flame, It is also what irritates and fatigues your eyes the most. In addition, ACE color enhances red, blue and green, making it easier to see a glass' true color and judge its temperature while you work.

Cool part is though, my brother goes to Arrow Springs (the companies website I found this at) regularly, so he might actually be able to get some sort of discount on a sheet if I can figure out how to mount it.

When I first read the title, I somehow read "Dilithium Cyrstals".

As a jeweler who frequently likes to see just what is melting when I 'solder' gold together and especially when I am 'soldering' a new pong tip on a setting I have used both the Didymium and the Ace 202 lenses. I suggest that the OP discuss what he need s with these people Didymiumhttp://www.phi​llips-safety.com/store/index​.php?cPath=40_60&osCsi​d=grfd5su9pk1icogqijdq​4i1ej7 As they are knowledgeable And the company where I buy my safety glasses.

Wayne

Actually I think what Im going to end up doing is buying the 4.5" x 5" plate of ACE 202 glass here: LINK

Have them score it down to 4" x 5".

And use it in a Lee Foundation Kit: LINK

Working out the details now. Ill post back if I end up going that route and how it all works.

Ben you may need to get the Schneider http://www.2filter.com …NEIDER44filterh​older.html filter system as the ACE 202 plates are 3.5 mm thick and I don't think that the Lee system will take a filter that thick.

Of course there is always Red Neck technology AKA Duct Tape.

Wayne

WMS wrote in post #10779655
Ben you may need to get the Schneider http://www.2filter.com …NEIDER44filterh​older.html filter system as the ACE 202 plates are 3.5 mm thick and I don't think that the Lee system will take a filter that thick.

Of course there is always Red Neck technology AKA Duct Tape.

Wayne

AH! Thank you for that! I was waiting to hear back from Arrow Springs as to how thick the plates of glass were! I thought there were different sized screws you could get for the Lee holder that gave you varying thicknesses...

Phillips Safety states theirs is 3.2mm thick as seen here: LINK