Vickko
Veteran
A colour enlarger can do BW, is that right?
It just isn't optimized for BW, but with the right filter settings, it can do BW? And, with the yellow/magenta adjustments, it should do VC paper.
regards
Vick
It just isn't optimized for BW, but with the right filter settings, it can do BW? And, with the yellow/magenta adjustments, it should do VC paper.
regards
Vick
froyd
Veteran
Correct. They make thinks easier for VC papers because the filters are built-in.
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
Yes. And there are very few enlargers "optimized for BW". The colour head has an extra filter unit for the colours, but if you leave those at zero you have a BW enlarger.
In addition, as you point out, you can use the yellow/magenta adjustments as replacement for yellow and magenta contrast filters. (You have to do some fiddling until you find the right values, though.)
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
Well, sort of. Colour heads generally have a diffuse light source, while classic black and white enlarger heads have condenser lamps - the latter deliver about one grade higher contrast, and enhance grain (and dust).
But what with the growing dominance of variable contrast paper, you'll nowadays mostly want a colour head for black and white as well.
BobYIL
Well-known
Yes.. especially for B&W printing on regular B&W papers we used to employ blue filter for sharper results in large enlargements (in the filter-drawer of Focomats, for example).. All hi-end enlarger lenses are calculated for reproduction ratios (i.e. for near-plan work) however very very few of them are of apochromatic design; and if they are then they cost a lot.. Blue cuts-off all other off-rays to cause CA "wooliness", you see tack-sharp grains with first-class enlarging lenses.
sig
Well-known
ooze
Established
It can do BW, however the filters in a color head usually can't provide the hardest contrast grade (i.e. grade 5). That shouldn't be a problem though, as you can always use under the lens filters (and swing out the built-in color ones).
One other "problem" with color heads is that any contrast change via the built in filters is accompanied by a change in exposure time, which means a bit more fiddling around. This does not happen with a dedicated BW multigrade head; here the exposure time remains constant...although I still prefer to do a few test strips around the established exposure if I change contrast settings (I work with a dedicated BW multigrade diffusion head).
135format
Established
Myth created by some fool who used old paper to do their testing. Use fresh paper and you will get grade 5 easily providing your enlarger isn't a pile of junk.
Steve M.
Veteran
Condenser enlargers will show every tiny speck of dust, so figure on doing a lot of spotting to fix your prints. That said, a lot of people, myself included, prefer them for B&W.
sevo
Fokutorendaburando
It probably originated with someone who did not know about the difference between the D values used by Durst (and other makers with a leg in the pro printer industry) and the CC values used by the majority of consumer enlarger makers. Ilford specified CC 180M as the needed filtration for grade 5 on Multigrade, while the Durst scale on their pro heads only goes to D 130. But the latter is equivalent to CC 190 something...
135format
Established
Thats even worse, it means they didn't even verify what they were claiming but that's how myths start I guess.
Chris101
summicronia
At my school we use LPL enlargers with their colorhead. Using the integral filters, with yellow and cyan zeroed out, and magenta all the way up, it goes to about a 4.7 grade. Using the Ilford supplied 5.0 gel filter does have a bit more contrast to my eye.
The paper is not old, the enlarger is nearly new, however I do not claim not to be a fool.
135format
Established
135format
Established
developer makes a difference too. It's all fairly arbitrary really but it just annoys me that these myths are are perpetuated causing people to believe that colour heads aren't capable when they are (on decent kit).
BobYIL
Well-known
I know that Dektol 1:1 instead of 1:2 and a tad less exposure with longer development can increase contrast up to one grade..
Chris101
summicronia
Your enlarger must be a pile of junk then
You might be right - I am no fan of LPL enlargers (they tend to fall apart all by themselves.) That however is only my opinion, man. According to Ilford's pdf referenced above, the LPL, along with many other popular enlargers, do not attain 5.0 filtration.
It's not a myth, it's just the way it is.
Vickko
Veteran
I'm hoping to snag a Durst L1200. Looks like it has a colour head from the photo.
I had an LPL4500XL once, but really didn't like how it leaked light at every seam of its head. I covered it with a blanket when I exposed the paper.
Vick
I had an LPL4500XL once, but really didn't like how it leaked light at every seam of its head. I covered it with a blanket when I exposed the paper.
Vick
135format
Established
yes the L1200 does it, well at least my CLS501 head does.