Dual or split contrast filter application use

Riverviewer · Feb 10, 2014

Can anyone provide me with information, experiences,discussions, resources... with utilizing split filtering on black and white print enlargements?

Mainecoonmaniac · Feb 10, 2014

Take a look here.
http://www.thewebdarkroom.com/?p=479

Riverviewer · Feb 10, 2014

Thanks

Thanks for the resource. I like the accompanying youtube demos.

jimjm · Feb 10, 2014

Check out this tutorial posted on the Online Darkroom about split-grade printing. Very well thought-out and easy to understand.
http://www.theonlinedarkroom.com/2014/01/split-grade-printing-guest-post.html

David Brown · Feb 10, 2014

And:

http://www.lesmcleanphotography.com/articles.php?page=full&article=21

There are those that will argue that there is nothing you can do with split grade that can't be done with a single exposure at a single grade filtration. And, for the most part, that's true. However, it is a valuable technique that many fine printers (such as McLean) have made use of. I use it when a negative is just a puzzle to me. Fortunately, most of my negatives aren't puzzling. Still, I appreciate having been taught this method by Les some years ago.

It just so happens that I returned only an hour ago from a local theater supply house where I bought a blue and a green Lee gel to use for this very purpose. I've always used the yellow and magenta filters, but many use blue and green filters. I'll do this with a condenser head and see how it goes.

Dr Croubie · Feb 10, 2014

jimjm said:
Check out this tutorial posted on the Online Darkroom about split-grade printing. Very well thought-out and easy to understand.
http://www.theonlinedarkroom.com/2014/01/split-grade-printing-guest-post.html

I've also seen another tutorial that works a bit differently to this one, in that once the first grade time is found, the second test strip is printed *on top* of the first one, rather than two separate strips from scratch.
edit:

David Brown said:
http://www.lesmcleanphotography.com/articles.php?page=full&article=21

that's the one.
Anyone have any opinions as to which method is better?

Also, I've read enough about it to understand the whole what and the how (and the why). My biggest question is the when? Does it work best on landscapes, still-life, people? When I've got a low-contrast neg or a high contrast, a dense neg or a thin one? Or just all the time?

David Brown · Feb 10, 2014

Dr Croubie said:
I've also seen another tutorial that works a bit differently to this one, in that once the first grade time is found, the second test strip is printed *on top* of the first one, rather than two separate strips from scratch.

Anyone have any opinions as to which method is better?

I do the hard on top of the soft approach. That's the one I was taught.

Dr Croubie said:
Also, I've read enough about it to understand the whole what and the how (and the why). My biggest question is the when? Does it work best on landscapes, still-life, people? When I've got a low-contrast neg or a high contrast, a dense neg or a thin one? Or just all the time?

Some printers use it all the time - it's just their way of working. Like I said, I use it when a negative does not give up its needed contrast easily.

David Brown · Feb 10, 2014

The other variation is to use different filtration for just dodging and burning, after a base exposure at grade X.

Riverviewer · Feb 10, 2014

Thank you!

Thanks for all the replies- opinions, resources, field discussions...we shall begin tomorrow.

Riverviewer · Feb 10, 2014

Thank you!

Thanks for all the replies- opinions, resources, field discussions...we shall begin tomorrow.

Riverviewer · Feb 16, 2014

I am using Kodak and Ilford contrast filters- '-1 to 5'.
Really enjoyed your Iceland portfolio. What type of scanner are you using? Are you scanning prints or negatives?

David Brown · Feb 16, 2014

Riverviewer said:
Really enjoyed your Iceland portfolio. What type of scanner are you using? Are you scanning prints or negatives?

Are you asking me? I use an Epson flat bed scanner to scan prints for the web.

Dual or split contrast filter application use

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