Colour head vs condenser for b&w?

Regarding the combinations of yellow and magenta filtration on different manufacturers' diffusion-heads, start off from the values on the information sheet inside the box of paper. It can also become intuitive to pick a grade based on the neg, make the initial exposure (with burning-in or dodging) and then add more or less contrasty exposure(s) where needed using higher/lower contrast filtration - possibly effectively the same as you were doing using the filters previously, but adjusted to allow for the different way of setting the contrast level.

I've been using the colour head for a while now and its working out very well indeed. There are advantages to both systems I think and from my now (limited) experience I wouldn't necessarily recommend one of them over the other. I haven't yet had a situation where I couldn't get the contrast level I wanted, so all good there.

Its working out very well for me at least....

Fran

fran said:

Hi all,

So I have been using a durst laborator 1000 with a condenser head since I started printing and have gotten great results with it. I mainly split grade print and my 0 and 5 filters are just about shot!

I've heard that condenser heads can be more contrasty, but not sure if that's universal opinion?

Is it worth going ahead and hooking it up?

Fran

Click to expand...

Perhaps you should explore straight printing on both before using split grade printing?

Hello Fran;
Go to the Ilford site and download information on the Multigrade filters and variable contrast papers. Quite a bit of info concerning filter grades and coresponding Durst colorhead enlargers. Should be worth your time, and I applaud your efforts. Steven.

Tony Egan you are funny. I like that. Confusing Dispenser.

I'll venture that a condenser is fantastic for 35mm and a diffuser is the one to beat for 4x5.

Since a color head is sort of a diffuser, you have a compromise on your hands. If dialing in the contrast filtration gets you where you want to go ... great.

But some of the color heads (my little Durst for one) can't go above 100 (1.0 in density terms) for any one color. And the Grade 4 filter is way up in Magenta.

So you might still require a drawer or under the lens filter to hit those extreme graphic effects.

You might as well keep the condensers clean and carefully stowed away. You'll need them one day.

Oh don't worry guys.... the condensers will be staying with me!!! I won't ever be getting rid of this enlarger I think!!


The colour head is working out a treat,very happy with it. Don't know which I'd pick if I had to choose one or the other.

Fran