ARS-Imago LAB-BOX 135 User manual
USER MANUAL
by
lab-box.it/tutorials
2
| Preface |
WHY LAB-BOX
Interest in analogue photography is growing. New generations of digital natives are rediscovering the analogue process as so-
mething new to experiment with.
This is why we have decided to create a product that would easily allow anyone to develop lm rolls in full daylight, indoor or
outdoors. Lab-Box addresses the needs of those just getting started with lm photography and, at the same time, it is a tool with
great potential for professionals and advanced users.
WHAT IS LAB-BOX
Lab-Box is a multi-format tank and can be used for both 35mm and 120 lms, thanks to the two interchangeable modules and
adjustable reels. The lms are loaded in full daylight and are wound onto the reel using the outer knob., without the need to be in
a darkroom. Lab-Box is the easiest and quickest tool to develop your own lms in full day light, anywhere and at anytime, bypas-
sing the need to load the rolls in the dark. Lab-Box is the result of long research and developing eorts, paired with an eective
and beautiful design.
CROWDFUNDED
Lab-box is a crowdfunded project and it became reality thanks to the Kickstarter plaorm and to all the 4791 backers that contri-
buted and supported us from all over the world.
Lab-Box is a project by
Design and prototyping are by VIVO Design Studio, in Rome, Italy
by
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| Index |
INDEX
User
Manual
Contents..........................................................................................................
Lid&Tank..........................................................................................................
Film Guide......................................................................................................
Module 135....................................................................................................
Module 120....................................................................................................
How to change modules.......................................................................
Knob & Crank...............................................................................................
Reels & Hub..................................................................................................
Assembling reels........................................................................................
How to load your 35mm lm.............................................................
How to load your 120 lm.....................................................................
Chemicals process....................................................................................
Processing lm............................................................................................
Preparation of liquids..............................................................................
Pouring and emptying chemicals.....................................................
Developing, stopping and xing.........................................................
Agitation..........................................................................................................
Washing & Wetting agent....................................................................
Drying................................................................................................................
Trouble shooting........................................................................................
Technical Information.............................................................................
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6
7
8
9
10
12
13
14
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32
33
34
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36
37
38
39
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| Contents - LAB-BOX |
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1
2 3 4
5
5
| Contents - LAB-BOX |
1. LID
2. MODULE 135
3. MODULE 120
4. TANK
5. KNOB
6. CRANK (Accessory)
7. HUB
8. FILM GUIDE
9. 135 REEL
10. 120 REEL
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9
78
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CONTENTS
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TANK
The Tank is where the actual developing process happens. On the inside, the lm wound onto
the reel, comes into contact with the chemicals. The side hole holds a rounded gasket set
out to prevent leaks during agitation through the external handle: it is necessary to make sure
that the gasket stays clean and undamaged. On the back of the Tank are listed working liquid
quantities: 300ml to ll half the tank and proceed with continuous agitation; 490ml to ll the
Tank completely and proceed with intermittent agitation.
LID
The Lid was designed to let liquids in and out, yet being lightproof. Thanks to the side dentels,
once in place, the Lid stably latches onto the tank to keep the light from leaking in. To remove
the Lid, you need to pull it upwards perpendicularly to the tank: avoid oblique movements.
Before starting a new process, make sure that the lid is completely dry, so to avoid drops to
compromise the correct loading of the lm.
| Contents - LID & TANK |
Scan the QR Code with your phone to watch the video tutorial instructions
7
FILM GUIDE
The lm guide is a multi-format guide that enables lm to be correctly wound onto the reel.
One may set the guide for 135 format and 120 format. 135 format has a security lock to keep
the slide in place.
| Contents - FILM GUIDE |
VIDEO - 1
To unlock the lm guide and set it to 120 position, you need to pry onto the locking dentel
below the slide while pushing sidewards, until the two slides separate. It is important not to
pry onto the upper extremity of the slide: plastic in that spot is very exible and might break.
Scan the QR Code with your phone to watch the video tutorial instructions
8
MODULE 135
The 135 Module turns Lab-Box into a developing tank for 35mm lms. Pushing the gray lever
on the back activates a cutting blade that cuts o the lm from the spool. The lm must be
slidden under the two metal tubes that will act as a counter-blade for cutting.
| Contents - MODULE 135 |
VIDEO - 2
Scan the QR Code with your phone to watch the video tutorial instructions
9
MODULE 120
The 120 module turns Lab-Box into a developing tank for 120 lms. The module has a lm
chamber inside and a split on the outside to extract the black backing paper while the lm
is wrapped inside. The gray lm block is used to press the 120 lm roll against the lm cham-
ber and ensure that the lm is wrapped correctly.
The external knob allows you to open (triangle position) or close (square position) the lm cham-
ber. Placing the knob at the point allows you to extract the piece. It is important that the lm cham-
ber be completely dry before using the module, otherwise the lm loading can be compromised.
| Contents - MODULE 120 |
TRIANGLE POSITION
Film chamber open to
load the lm
SQUARE POSITION
Film chamber closed to
clip the lm before loading
POINT POSITION
Film chamber removal
VIDEO - 3
Scan the QR Code with your phone to watch the video tutorial instructions
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Locking
Bring the module close to the tank by matching the holes of
the module to the hooks on the back of the tank. At this point,
while holding the tank rmly, push the module simultaneously
towards the tank wall and down until you hear a click.
1
2
3
| Contents - CHANGING MODULES |
VIDEO - 4
CHANGING MODULES
Scan the QR Code with your phone to watch the video tutorial instructions
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| Contents - CHANGING MODULES |
Unlocking
To unhook the module press the small exibile tab present on
the bottom between module and tank. While holding the tab
pressed against the module, push the module simoultaneously
upwards and away from the tank, meanwhile push with the
other hand the tank downwards until they unhook.
1
2
VIDEO - 4
CHANGING MODULES
!Module 120 can be slightly harder to unhook.
Watch the video to check alternative methods
to unhook more easily 120 modules.
Scan the QR Code with your phone to watch the video tutorial instructions
12
KNOB
The Knob allows you to externally control the rotation of the internal reel. Before you insert the knob
in place you must always make sure that the internal cylinder is clean not to damage the gasket. The
Knob can only be inserted in and out by aligning the small symbol with the one on the tank.
CRANK (accessory)
The Crank accessory eases the external control of the internal reel. It consists of two pieces: a xed
one and a movable one. Once you have inserted the disc aligning the plastic line with the symbol on
the tank, turn the disc by 90 degrees to keep it locked. To uninsert the Crank, realign the line with the
symbol and pull outwards. Before you use the Crank, check that the internal cylinder is clean in order
not to cause damage to the gasket.
| Contents - KNOB & CRANK |
Insert the crank into the tank hole.
Turn the crank base by 90° until locked.
Match the point on the tank with the point on the knob to insert and remove it
VIDEO - 5
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| Contents - REEL HUB & REELS |
REELS 135 & 120
The Reels allow winding of the lm inside the Tank.
The Reels are designed to grant homogeneous ux
during developing.
The 135 Reels feature external wings to aid agita-
tion of liquids.
The 120 Reels are optimised to leave as much room
as possible for the lm.
REELS 135 REELS 120
REEL HUB
The multiformat hub allows you to mount reels 135 or 120 depending on the lm format you
want to develop. The 135 reels will lock on the inmost grooves.The 120 reels in the outmost
grooves. On both sides there are an “L” (le) and an “R” (right) and two arrows that will match
those on the reels in order to mount correctly. The R side of the hub, where a star shape in the
hole is, must appear to match the side of the tank knob.
At the center of the hub there are two slits to facilitate the ow of chemicals. In the smaller
slot the strip is hooked with the clip that will wrap around the hub when the lms are loaded
into the spirals.
Scan the QR Code with your phone to watch the video tutorial instructions
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| Contents - ASSEMBLING REELS 135 |
Assembling the 135 Reels
To assemble the 135 Reels, L and R symbols on the back of the reels must be aligned with
the ones on the hub. Once you have inserted the reel from the correct side, the arrow on
the reel and the arrow on the hub must be aligned. Now, push the reel to the end, until it
touches the hub’s central pivot. Finally, you must lock the reel by rotating the two reels in
the opposite direction as shown in the picture. You will hear the reel locking aer clinging
one dentel. To disassemble the reels, proceed backwards.
RR
L
L
VIDEO - 6
13
2
You can easily recognize the right assembly
position by checking the arrows alignement:
in the right position the reel can be smoothly
inserted, in the wrong opposite position it is
instead much harder to insert.
!
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Scan the QR Code with your phone to watch the video tutorial instructions| Contents - ASSEMBLING REELS 120 |
Assembling the 120 Reels
To assemble the 120 Reels, L and R symbols on the back of the reels must be aligned with the
ones on the hub. Once you have inserted the reel from the correct side, the arrow on the reel
and the arrow on the hub must be aligned. Now, push until it coincides with the rst slot; to
lock it, rotate the two reels in the opposite direction as shown in the picture. You will hear the
reel locking aer clinging one dentel. To disassemble the reels, proceed backwards.
RR
L
L
VIDEO - 7
13
2
You can easily recognize the right assembly
position by checking the arrows alignement:
in the right position the reel can be smoothly
inserted, in the wrong opposite position it is
instead much harder to insert.
!
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HOW TO LOAD YOUR 35MM FILM
| LOAD YOUR FILM - 135 lm |
Scan the QR Code with your phone
to watch the video tutorial
www.lab-box.it/tutorials
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| LOAD YOUR FILM - 135 lm |
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| LOAD YOUR FILM - Check list 135 lm |
CHECK LIST before you start
Check that the 135 reels are in correct po-
sition and properly aligned.Follow L, R and
arrows reference on the reels and the hub.
Check the lm guide is in correct position 135,
properly closed and dry.
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2
Check the
alignment
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| LOAD YOUR FILM - Check list 135 lm |
Check again that all the elements are pro-
perly aligned and that the blade is not visible.
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Films with P.E.T. base are much harder to clip and to cut.
Here you can nd an updated list of P.E.T. base lms: wwww.lab-box.it/peilmlist
P.E.T.
!
Pay attention to clipping the lm as much as
possible in the center.
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Take your exposed 35mm lm and cut the
lm tail.
Open the lid and place the roll in the lm slot.
Then slide the lm under the two metal pins.
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INSTRUCTIONS
| LOAD YOUR FILM - Instructions 135 lm |
This manual suits for next models
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