Ilford Multi-grade Classic for the first time

I just tried out Ilfords Multigrade Classic and it's a "wow" paper to me. I like it a lot. I developed it in E-72 and the blacks are near perfect. I also tried some(first time) Slavich grade #2 along side just to see what it was like. The grade #2 Slavich seemed more like #1 using V54 cold light head. When I switched to the Ilford VC Classic I was shocked at the fast print times. Using Ilford's No.3 multigrade filter, V54 Cold light head and an aperture of f8 I was printing at around 6 sec.. I just acquired this Omega D2 + V54 cold light combo and this was the maiden voyage. I haven't tried either paper on my normal Ilford Multi-grade 400HL VC head enlarger yet so the times might be a whole lot different. I don't like my times to be that fast and prefer something at least in the 15 to 25 sec. area. Still, fast times or not, the Classic paper looks darn good to me and I will be using much more of it. I will get a handle on it sooner or later. Hopefully sooner.

It is lovely paper!

There is a speed difference of about one stop between most Ilford RC and FB papers, the RC being faster.

My experience with the MG500 head (additive blue & green light, but dichroic filters on Halogen bulbs rather than cold cathode) is that MG paper is 'faster' under it than fixed grade - simply because MG paper is sensitive to both blue & green light rather than just blue - this is very noticeable if you jump from Galerie to Classic or Cooltone in my experience. You just have to stop down or use a longer lens.

For what it's worth, Ilford recommend using the G5 setting (max blue) on the MG500 with fixed grade papers - I'd imagine the V54 will be much the same, though cold cathodes can be funny beasts at the best of times.

Classic (and cooltone) are great papers - HP5+ & Classic are a stunning combination.

The Ilford 400HL has yellow and magenta dichroic filters and only goes to G4 so I don't know if settings for graded paper would be at G4 or not. I really haven't printed on Graded paper much with the VC head and then only with far outdated paper. The V54 cold light heads output is a very bright greenish blue and will take some tweaking to get what I want as far as printing speed. I think I'll be using either another diffuser plate or an ND filter in the light source path.
Funny you should mention HP5+ and Classic since the negative I was working with was a 120 HP5+ shot developed in Xtol-R. I totally agree, it's a very good combination. I went up to 16 x 20 and saw no grain or no grain as far as these old eyes can see. It was also very good in the sharpness department also. My summer will be spent perfecting this combination that's for sure.

Just to add to the post above:
I do not have a manual for the Ilfospeed 400HL VC head so went online and found one. According to the manual you print Graded paper on the setting of 1 1/2 Grade.

You used a v54 on slavich...?? Slvich is graded paper...that light is for vc

John Wiegerink said:

According to the manual you print Graded paper on the setting of 1 1/2 Grade.

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That would make sense - the 400 was meant for one of the older multigrades (II?) - MGIV and later are about grade 2 sans filter.

Peter Schrager said:

You used a v54 on slavich...?? Slvich is graded paper...that light is for vc

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Yes, that's true, but you can use the V54 on graded paper also. I just have to find the right grade of paper for my style negative and V54 cold light. I don't think the "Darkroom Photo Cops" will get me unless you tell them. Nothing is written in stone when it comes to photography.

Lachlan Young said:

That would make sense - the 400 was meant for one of the older multigrades (II?) - MGIV and later are about grade 2 sans filter.

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Makes sense then.