0-5 filters, need help

[jefffribourg]

Hi, I just recently had access to a dark room while on a trip to new york and hadn't used a darkroom in 7 years. When i got home i realized that i really needed a dark room and built one up. now that i have a darkroom that i can use at my leisure i have been wanting to use filters. im not very knowledgeable when it comes to filters and need some help with them. I cant seem to find good write up or explanation online for standard filter usage, im only finding split filter usage. if anyone has suggestions or a link to a good article on using filters thank would be great.

thanks, Jeff

 

[jordanstarr]

Jeff...

There's not much to know. Some sets go from 00, 0, 1/2, 1...to 5, some go from 1-5. The higher up the number, the higher the contrast of the print. As you do test strips, you find which filter hits the desired contrast you prefer. This is probably why you haven't found any information on them -the manual would be about 4 sentences long.

Are you looking for an explanation on HOW they work (balance and density of yellow and magenta light, light waves through those colours, etc)?

 

[jefffribourg]

thanks for the response Jordanstarr.

i have a set the is 0,1,1.5,2,2.5,ect. i was just wondering if anyone had an overview of what each filter does and their effects on the highs, lows, and mids. i guess a "(balance and density of yellow and magenta light, light waves through those colours, etc)" would also help me wrap my head around all this.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Here's how they work. First of all, each paper manufacturer made filters, and you need to use the manufacturer's filters since each company's papers had different color sensitivity. Most makers made their papers to work well with Ilford's filter set, but Kodak was totally different (but kodak doesn't make paper anymore) so buy the Ilford filters if you use Ilford paper, and if you don't the Ilford set will work ok.

#2 is normal contrast. Most of your negs will print with #2 if you developed them right. All the filters from 00 to 3.5 give the same exposure, so you can change filters once you have exposure right and exposure should stay about the same. #4, 4.5, and 5 need one stop more exposure than the lower numbers.

Always print with a filter in place, because if you make an initial print with no filter in place, and find the contrast needs adjusted, putting a filter in will require you to do new test strips for exposure. So, start with the #2 filter, make test print, then choose a different filter if needed.