paper speed, paper contrast

[PetPhoto]

I admit i havent made a print in a few years. Work and such. Perhaps I am in a funk who know.

Anyway, something that was found to be evil to ask is this.

If my dichroic enlarger "adds" 1 grade in contrast just by being used, how does EVERY contrast filter sheet tell me my beseler dual dichro s is a contrast grade of 2 when set to 0-0-0, ie no filters in place. But yet to use the ilford or ultrafine rebranded under lens/filter tray filters, i need to have the dichroic head set to 0-0-0 and placing the #2 filter sheet will result in an actual paper image of contrast grade 2..

Also with the papers these days having excellerators and claiming things like

Prints about 1-stop faster than most other papers - Saves about half the printing time
Works with Ilford MG filters grades 00-5

 

[Cascadilla]

A dichroic head with all of the filters zeroed should be equivalent to grade 2. When I used Ilford VC filters back in the day, if you tested for exposure with a #2 filter and then decided to change contrast, you could print with the 3# filter and get an equivalent exposure with increased contrast over the #2 filter. #1 or #0 would lower the contrast but maintain the proper exposure. #4 and #5 filters required double the exposure of a #2 test.

 

[PetPhoto]

with a good number of todays papers have "speed boosters" or "contrast boosters",, combine that with the contrast grade boost of a dichroic head, combined with the "accepted" +1 grade boost provided by my 23cII set up as a condensor...

just what is the real tally on my gears output when combined with paper?

in the past i have accidentally enlarged two sheets of Inkpress enlarging paper that were stacked on top of eachother, emulsion side to emulsion side, and both came out identical to each other, and the one i did correctly.. all with the enlarger set to 0-0-0

 

[Jonathan R]

with a good number of todays papers have "speed boosters" or "contrast boosters",, combine that with the contrast grade boost of a dichroic head, combined with the "accepted" +1 grade boost provided by my 23cII set up as a condensor...

just what is the real tally on my gears output when combined with paper?

I don't understand why it matters to know this, so long as you can make the print you want?

I have no experience of dichroic heads, but when set to 0-0-0 isn't it producing white light? So then, with no additional filter, Ilford Multigrade (for instance) will produce its 'default' contrast grade, which is about Grade 2 1/2. But add a (coloured) #2 filter, and you'll get Grade 2, etc, etc.

Condenser enlargers project a more contrasty image than diffuser enlargers, and you'll see that higher contrast in the print unless you dial down the grade filter; but the paper's foot speed (i.e. sensitivity to the light, determining whether highlights have detail or are just blank white) is unaffected.