FIlter ?'s

[Brad Bireley]

Do filters have the same effect on C-41 processed B&W film?

Also, what will a #85 do with B&W film?

Thanks in advance,
Brad

 

[back alley]

i think they do.

an 85, is that orange?
might add contrast.

try it and see and then report back!
😉

 

[lmd91343]

The filters should work the same way. But why would you need to use them? Kodak chromogenic C-41 seems to render colors in their proper B&W tone. (I am looking at a roll right now.) The reason for the "normal" use of filters is to correct the deficiency of the old panchromatic films (TriX etc) in recording tones towards the blue end of the spectrum.

Of course special effects, like a very dark sky, would still require filters (with a red 25) as the old panchromatic B&W films do.

 

[Dougg]

XP2 has slightly higher sensitivity to red than Tri-X, for instance, so for outdoor shots blue skies are a bit darker, maybe like using a pale yellow with Tri-X. So the effect of yellow/orange/red filters is a little stronger with XP2 than Tri-X, but otherwise the same reasons for using contrast effect filters still applies. Like, a green filter still lightens green foliage and gives a more outdoorsy-rugged look to skin tones in masculine portraits... I'll often use a pale warming color-correcting filter like Wratten 81A, 81C, or 85B as a "normal" filter instead of a UV.

 

[bmattock]

The filters should work the same way. But why would you need to use them? Kodak chromogenic C-41 seems to render colors in their proper B&W tone. (I am looking at a roll right now.) The reason for the "normal" use of filters is to correct the deficiency of the old panchromatic films (TriX etc) in recording tones towards the blue end of the spectrum.

Of course special effects, like a very dark sky, would still require filters (with a red 25) as the old panchromatic B&W films do.

True that 'corrective' filters such as the 85 are for 'fixing' deficiencies in older style B&W films, just as tungsten filters and films were for correcting for incandescant light (now known as 'white balance') when shooting color indoors.

However, that's giving the standard filters for B&W (red, orange, yellow, blue, green) short shrift. They are for the creative control of grayscale representation of colors. Classic example - red roses and green leaves. Depending on their shade and light conditions, they can render the same shade of gray - boring. Another classic use is the oft-done shift of blue skies towards the black end by use of a red filter (since blue skies got no red in them, but white clouds do).

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks