LPL C7700 Colour Head - How can I dial in Grade 5?

ozphoto · Apr 3, 2009

Hi All.

I had a print session of some really old negs today, from my grandmother's collection.

One in particular needed Grade 5 to be usable, and according to my grade table I need to dial in 200M.

Unfortunately, my LPL C7700 only dials up to 170M. I printed at that, but it still needed some extra "snap".

How can I get Grade 5 on this head? Never needed it previously, but would be good to know for future reference.

Thanks everybody!

-Nanette

Mick Fagan · Apr 3, 2009

Nannette, one way I once did a flat as a flapjack neg, was to dial out the filtration and use a number 5 Ilford filter under the lens.

It worked better than the sort of grade 4½ or so my colour head was able to achieve.

I don't suggest you make a habit of it, but when desperation happens, you do funny things for a result.

Mick.

Solarize · Apr 3, 2009

I have the same enlarger, and tend to use the yellow filter alongside magenta if I need the contrast. I've never bothered to work out the actual grade of the filter settings - just go off the test strips and work prints.
Ciaran

ozphoto · Apr 3, 2009

Thanks for the input.
Was thinking along your lines, Mick, as I've seen a SH lot of filters that were missing some filters but luckily *not* the Grade 5 one.
And Solarize - this was my real hope when asking the original question - saves me having to outlay extra $$ on a filter I'll rarely use.

Will try a few Test Strips, and if to no avail - I'll go Mick's suggestion.

Thanks all - as always an answer is out there for just about everything on APUG

-Nanette
www.nanettereid.com

Tom Kershaw · Apr 3, 2009

Nanette,

You could try using ILFORD MG FB which should give plently of contrast with heavy magenta filtration.

Tom.

ath · Apr 4, 2009

Take a paper that delivers more contrast. Not all papers are true G5 even with the ilford filters.

ic-racer · Apr 4, 2009

The numbers on color heads are not standardized. If your magenta filter is totally covering the light path, that will likely be as good as the Ilford MG #5 filter. Also, make sure the yellow moves all the way out of the way when its on zero. To get more contrast you can try a high contrast paper developer or graded #5 paper or both.

ozphoto · Apr 4, 2009

Thanks all - will look at all options.
Seems like a visit to my local photo shop may be in order.
Uncle Kev's gonna love having given me that bonus here in AUS!

LPL C7700 Colour Head - How can I dial in Grade 5?

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