Variable contrast printing?

[johnastovall]

I'm starting back to set up a wet darkroom and when I was printing I used nothing but graded Agfa Papers. I now see that any kind of graded papers, particulary in high contrast grades are rare.

It looks like I need to learn the use of variable contrast papers. Here can I start to learn about variable contrast printing, what are the better enlargers for it, and what are the good reference/teching books on the subject?

Did Leitz make an enlarger for VC work?

I'm currently leaning to the Omega/LCL lines.

I don't even know if I know enough to be asking the right questions.

 

[Florian1234]

I think the Leitz Focomat V35 had an upgrade to do multicontrast stuff.
For others Ilford for example made "multigrade" filters to put between lamp and enlarger lens to be able to process multicontrast paper. That set of filters is on my list for the to build darkroom here at home. All I have right now is the enlarger (from Kaiser, hope it will do it..)

 

[Al Kaplan]

Hi John, I just sent you an email.

 

[Ronald M]

Any color head on any enlarger will do VC printing. The VC module for the V35 is convenient, but has neutral density built into the middle grades to keep exposures constant.

Focomat IC with grey oblong heads has a slot or filters. Get what is sold as the color version or make your own filter holder which is what I did. I made 7 holds and attached 7 VC filters. Pull one out, put anew one in , 15 seconds.

 

[Fotohuis]

The Leitz V35 Focomat has a VC filter module for variable contrast paper. You can even swap it out for a Heiland Split Grade filtermodule.

What is split grade printing:

http://www.fotohuisrovo.nl/documentatie/BasicSplitGradePrinting.pdf

Some recommended literature: Way beyond monochrome , Ralph Lambrecht - Chris Woodhouse.

And here how the Heiland system is working:
http://www.fotohuisrovo.nl/documentatie/Split_Grade_Manual_V23_Englisch.pdf

It can be build in or modified for 32 different enlarger systems.

Best regards,

Robert

 

[rsosa]

Any color head on any enlarger will do VC printing. The VC module for the V35 is convenient, but has neutral density built into the middle grades to keep exposures constant.

Focomat IC with grey oblong heads has a slot or filters. Get what is sold as the color version or make your own filter holder which is what I did. I made 7 holds and attached 7 VC filters. Pull one out, put anew one in , 15 seconds.

Would you post a pic of it? Thanks!

 

[Chris101]

I'm starting back to set up a wet darkroom and when I was printing I used nothing but graded Agfa Papers. I now see that any kind of graded papers, particulary in high contrast grades are rare.

It looks like I need to learn the use of variable contrast papers. Here can I start to learn about variable contrast printing, what are the better enlargers for it, and what are the good reference/teching books on the subject?

Did Leitz make an enlarger for VC work?

I'm currently leaning to the Omega/LCL lines.

I don't even know if I know enough to be asking the right questions.

I use an LCL at school. There are filter numbers you can dial in to the color head that give you grades 00 through 4.5. The way variable filtration works is that filtering with a particular color causes the paper to react as though it is a particular contrast grade. Most VC papers are grade 2 if unfiltered. Yellow filters lower the contrast, while magenta raises the contrast.

This Ilford Fact Sheet has a lot of information that may help.

 

[ChrisN]

Another old thread revived. The OP's last activity on the forum was two months ago. Are you still out there John? Which enlarger did you get?

But on the subject, although my Durst has a colour head and I can dial in varying amounts to provide something like the correct filter for the different contrast grades, I'm not confident the old built-in filters haven't faded, and I don't have the patience to calibrate them. I've settled for using Ilford filters under the lens. It is actually much quicker to change grades with the filters, and works well with the RHDesigns Zonemaster print exposure meter (which needs white light for metering).

 

[Chris101]

Another old thread revived. The OP's last activity on the forum was two months ago. Are you still out there John? Which enlarger did you get?

...

Ouch! I didn't even notice that it was an old thread, nor did I check who the OP was. I say was, because John passed away some time back.