Durst 606 red filter

[mtnbkr]

I recently picked up a Durst 606 and have a question about it. It is equiped with a swing out red filter that seems to be permanently mounted between the negative carrier and lens. The manual I downloaded from the Internet doesn't talk much about it. What is it for? It has some scratches, so I'm concerned about using it when making prints.

Chris

 

[Dave Miller]

It's used by some to swing under the lens when focusing on an unexposed sheet of paper; something I never do. Far better to dispense with it. I use mine to hold my RH Designs paper flasher head, which is a much better use for it.

 

[agGNOME]

Actually, I used to have the same take on tossing the red filter(from any enlarger) until I realized just how useful it can be. Having a red filter is actually perfect for flashing techniques with one enlarger. Swing a red filter in place to align a print in any printing process that requires re-exposing the paper, etc. If you do straight printing you may find you never use it, but in certain creative printing it could be indispensable to you.

 

[agGNOME]

Btw, having scratches on the filter will not matter. They are used to keep paper from being exposed rather than to print with.

 

[Monophoto]

Actually, its not a good idea to focus through the red filter - the fact that the red component of light focuses at the paper plane does not meand that the white light that actually exposes the paper will be focused.

Instead, I would use the red filter as a way to block the light while leaving the lamp on. When you switch on the lamp, the heat from the lamp causes tbe temperature of the negative to increase. Eventually, the negative will "pop" in response to this heat. You don't want that to happen after you focus because it means that the image on the paper will no longer be in focus. Careful printers focus on a scrap sheet of paper, and then either swing the red filter under the lens while the actual printing paper is loaded into the easel, or else they will switch off the lamp, load the paper, and then switch the lamp on for a few seconds while holding a card under the lens for a few seconds to allow the negative to return to the temperature at which it was focused.

 

[mtnbkr]

Thanks guys!

Chris

 

[Marco Gilardetti]

:confused:

Isn't it simply used to check paper placement when printing without easel?

I don't get the point exactly, I've actually never seen an enlarger without a red filter (unless it got lost, of course).

:confused: