Kodak Ektar 100, high (very ugly) contrast prints

[bvy]

The problem I had with filters was that I often print four different filtrations to a single sheet of paper in order to see which one looks best. In this case, I found it much easier to dial in the different filtrations between exposures than to fumble with different filter packs in the dark. I had no problem with the discrete steps.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Colorheads make life a lot easier.

 

[Roger Cole]

I'd think they make it a little easier but then I may not be spoiled.

I have a little easel that allows multiple small prints on a sheet of 8x10 and I'd often make otherwise identical test prints with slight variations in filtration too and that would be a lot easier with a color head. My easel allowed (well allows, I still have it) the insertion of a dark slide though so filter packs could be changed with the lights on. Granted that IS a lot slower than just changing the dial and leaving the lights off.

Bottom line though is that I didn't have one, and didn't let it stop me from printing color. Neither should anyone else who has a condenser head but wants to try color.

All that said I'd love to find a color head for my Omega D2, which would also give me handy VC filtration and a diffusion light source for black and white, but when I've found them they've been unwilling to ship and too far away for me to pick up, or they've been missing hardware, or they've been for a different model and would need some refitting and while I'm pretty competent with electronics I am not when it comes to mechanical things. Oh I can do assembly and such fine bu when it comes to fabricating a bracket or drilling new holes to fit or something, forgetaboutit. I know from experience I'll just mess it up.

 

[trondsi]

This is why I shoot slide film. Negative color film has so much room for interpretation and labs will mess up more often than not. If I want high quality prints, I can just point to my slide and say "like this, or as close to this as you can get"

Of course you CAN get good prints from negative film, but I have often been disappointed.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Take it back to the lab and have a quiet discussion with them about doing a better job printing.

 

[Roger Cole]

If you want something done right, do it yourself.

Printing RA4 is not difficult. I mean to return to it, though I really wanted to get plumbing in my darkroom first. But if I can do B&W with a holding bath I can do RA4, especially at room temperature (which works fine with time adjustment.)