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

[ozphoto]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Nanette,

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

Tom.

 

[ath]

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

 

[ic-racer]

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]

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!