Graded papers with Ilford500 head

SMBooth · Jun 15, 2013

I've been lucky enough to pick up a Devere 504 fitted with a Ilford500 head. While I normally print on VC paper is there any problem using graded paper under the 500 head, do I just set the controller to grade 2 to balance the light source or is there a way to get straight white light from the head that I don't know about.

Gerald C Koch · Jun 15, 2013

For graded papers you want white light. I am unfamiliar with the Ilford model but heads of this type usually have a provision for white light focusing. I would contact Ilford for an instruction manual which you will need anyway.

Hexavalent · Jun 15, 2013

From the manual (pg 39): http://www.ilfordphoto.com/Webfiles/2007321151751747.pdf

Prints from graded paper such as ILFOSPEED can be made using the ILFOSPEED
MULTIGRADE 500 equipment. ILFOSPEED paper is only sensitive to blue light , therefore
select contrast grade 4 or 4 1/2 (suggested) on the control unit as a compromise between
exposure time and image visibility .

SMBooth · Jun 16, 2013

Thank, I have read the manual but unsure if newer graded paper , foam contact speed in fact could be put in the same box as old ilforspeed. Also want to use it to pre flash ilford direct positive paper

kevs · Jun 18, 2013

SMBooth said:
Thank, I have read the manual but unsure if newer graded paper , foam contact speed in fact could be put in the same box as old ilforspeed. Also want to use it to pre flash ilford direct positive paper

Do you mean Foma contact paper? That might be too slow for use under an enlarger, but possible I suppose. Contact papers are usually slow, chloride emulsions suitable for daylight printing. You can put it into an old Ilfospeed box if you want to, but be careful you don't mistake it for old Ilfospeed...

At my university I tried printing Grade 2 Ilfospeed Galerie on the De Vere 504s fitted with Ilford 500 heads; even without a grade filter engaged I found the results rather lacking in contrast for my taste. YMMV.

Your enlarger should be fine for pre-flashing paper.

Cheers,
kevs

laurentgirard · Jun 30, 2013

set your grade on 3 1/2 on the 500 enlarger, it prints well for graded papers...

Steve Sherman · Jun 30, 2013

Prior to owning an Ilford 500 head on a Durst 138 I regularly printed graded papers using an ordinary "blue" cold light head. I read somewhere that using green light (low contrast with Multigrade papers) with graded papers would produce a slightly softer contrast version than using blue light ( high contrast with Multigrade papers) I found this to be true, at least with the Agfa papers that I was using.

I've never tried it with the 500 Head as I use the Multi graded papers most recently as opposed to older graded versions. Seemed to have a slightly greater effect with cold tone papers vs warm tone papers.

Cheers

Rafal Lukawiecki · Oct 13, 2013

Steve, I can confirm your observation to be true with the 500H, in my experience too, with some graded papers, like Gallerie.

Graded papers with Ilford500 head

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