Kodak Polycontrast filters. Can be used with other VC papers?

[JHannon]

Hi all,

I have a set of the Kodak (under the lens) polycontrast filters. Can these be used with the Ilford (and other) VC papers or am I better off buying the Ilford filters?

I have been using graded papers and want to try out the Ilford FB VC papers.

Thanks,
John.

 

[George Collier]

I've been using Ilford filters with Forte paper, and they work. The steps in contrast between "grades" might not be even or linear, but they are consistent. My situation is also complicated by the fact that my head is a cold light.

 

[Monophoto]

You can use any brand of VC filters with any brand of VC paper.

However, VC paper and filters generally won't yield the same range of contrasts that was possible with graded papers. Furthermore, the response of a paper to Brand X filters will be different from the response of that same paper to Brand Y filters. For that reason, it is generally a bad idea to mix Brand X and Brand Y filters.

 

[JHannon]

I've been using Ilford filters with Forte paper, and they work. The steps in contrast between "grades" might not be even or linear, but they are consistent. My situation is also complicated by the fact that my head is a cold light.

Thanks George. I use a cold light too (Aristo on an Omega D2). The lamp is the newer Aristo V54 - Cyan Blue. It is said to work better with the VC papers. Guess I will find out.

--John

 

[George Collier]

I didn't say so in my post, but that is the lamp I use also. I find that there is more contrast than I would like (#1 - 1.5 is normal for me, similar to #2 graded Seagull in the former life), but the quality of separation in the lower tones is so much better, that it's worth it, and I can split expose to control whichever end needs more.
I am also having difficulty in finding the right combination of dilution and time for stand development with Pyrocat and FP4 with this printing combination, maybe because of the brown tone negs and the Blue-Green color of the lamp (HC110 is more "normal").

 

[Roger Hicks]

However, VC paper and filters generally won't yield the same range of contrasts that was possible with graded papers.

True, but a lot depends which direction you're going: for hard paper, grade 5 graded is almost invariably harder, but for soft papers, you can normally get softer with VC.