A normal enlarger with an incandescent/halogen bulb and the appropriate filters will print fine on MG paper.
A normal enlarger with an incandescent/halogen bulb and the appropriate filters will print fine on MG paper.if a normal white light bulb such as the likes of an incandescent often found in b&w enlargers is not a suitable light source for getting prints at the range of grades that MG paper and filters are said to provide.
Yes that was always my understanding but maybe ic-racer has a source that says otherwise. It may be that what he said about a white light source and enlargers that do only print grade 2 on MG papers applies to special and these days unusual cases but all I am looking for is clarification on whether and in what circumstances I need to be wary of white light sources found in enlargers. It may be white light sources other than incandescent bulbs so O need have no worries. However it is always disconcerting in any thread when a "curved ball" suddenly appearsA normal enlarger with an incandescent/halogen bulb and the appropriate filters will print fine on MG paper.
He clarified his statement with the addition that it can be difficult to fit appropriate filters on some enlargers. I personally think there's always a way to fashion something that'll work, but it won't always be pretty.It may be that what he said about a white light source and enlargers that do only print grade 2 on MG papers
ic-racers, it sounds as if any white light source such as an incandescent bulb cannot produce other than grade 2 but doesn't this mean that all such enlargers using white light bulbs cannot produce other than one grade, namely grade 2?
Maybe not clear. Getting an appropriate color of light for the MG paper can be challenging without a 'color' enlarger or MG head, for example contact printing, or enlargers without a mechanism to hold filters or printing with lamps not producing an appropriate color spectrum, etc... but maybe ic-racer has a source that says otherwise. ..r
When variable contrast papers were originally introduced they weren't nearly as good as the better existing fixed grade papers.
Current variable contrast papers are far, far better than the original versions.
In the meantime, the selection of fixed grade papers has shrunk to almost nil.
The remaining fixed grade papers are good quality and have their own character. You might like them, but I would suggest that many of the best fixed grade papers are gone.
The reason that a few remain is that there still are a few photographers whose workflow is based on them, and therefore buy them.
They do tend to encourage extra care in film choice, exposure and development.
Hello there
I am curious about fixed grade papers – they are still available (at least i two –or maybe three– grades), but I can't seem to find information about why one would want to use the instead of multigrade papers?
Do they have qualities that MG papers can't match?
Cheers,
Kasper
Alt processes tend to be fixed grade. So developing film for the intended print process is still a good skill to learn.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?