Multigrade paper with a color enlarging head

alvespms

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Dear All
I would like to obtain your suggestion about using a color enlarging head with multigrade paper. Which setting should be used to obtain different grades or do you suggest to use filters to obtain the same effect. I use ILFORD multigrade paper, and minolta color enlarger II.

Thanks to all replies.

Best

Pedro
 

Ole

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There should be a sheet of thin paper within every pack of enlarging paper. That sheet gives the approximate filtration settings for the most common colour heads.
 

Neal

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Dear Pedro,

I would like to suggest that you stop thinking in terms of paper grades if you are going to use VC paper. Add or reduce contrast as you think necessary.

Neal Wydra
 

RalphLambrecht

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Pedro

Bob mentioned the Ilford article. It is very good, but if you like to calibrate your head to the ISO grades, rather than the manufacturer's filter numbers, I suggest to download a sample chapter from my book for free.

You'll find 'Contrast Control with Color Enlargers' on my webpage in the 'Book' section.
 
OP
OP

alvespms

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That's great!

Thanks a lot for the feedback.
I have downloaded the book chapter to read and make some tests. I have still the instructions of ILFORD so I will take a look to it.
Pedro
 

Simon R Galley

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Dear Pedro,

If it will help... pm me your home address and I will post you a multigrade manual

Simon ILFORD Photo / HARMAN tcehnology Limited
 

raucousimages

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I have printed B&W with a color head and I think it is a pain in the butt. Keep it simple, use the right B&W filters for the job. Thats what they are made for.
 

david b

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I have not found this to be a pain in the butt but an almost endless way of adding or subtracting contrast. I've worked both ways and I am really enjoying dialing in the contrast. I also think my prints look a bit better as well.

As they say, just my 2 cents.
 

RalphLambrecht

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This does not match my experience. I'm far happier to print B&W with a color enlarger. There are some things the filters are better for (split-grade), but one can use filters with color enlargers too, and the fine-tuning with a color head is not available with filters.
 

Mick Fagan

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Ralph, I got interested in your book, so I looked it up in Australia with the idea it could be worth looking at, then if it is, purchasing it.

The local specialist photographic shop, "The Printed Image" in Melbourne were extremely helpful.

http://www.printedimage.com.au

However once they had the ISBN, they immediately informed me they cannot get any copies of that book as the distributor/printer/publisher (take your pick) appears to be in receivership.

They remarked, if I could get any copies, they would gladly take them off my hands to sell.

I was given the impression that this has been happening for quite some time.

Mick.
 

Jerevan

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Mick,

strange about the book - I ordered one a few days ago and it seems to be under way to me here in Sweden. (ISBN 0863433545, from publisher Newpro Uk Ltd, publication year 2002)
 

Mick Fagan

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Interesting, I'm dropping in on the store on Saturday morning.

I'll mention that it is available ex UK and see what reply I get.

As far as the original enquiry goes, I use a colour head for B&W work and wouldn't go to anything else. How else can you dial in grade 3¾ to get that little lift in contrast, wonderful way to do things.

Mick.
 

RalphLambrecht

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Mick

I'm not aware of this. I do know that only a few hundred books are left though. We will have to reprint soon. Anyway, I have few left here, but the shipping cost woulod kill you. RH Designs is a good place and the other sources mentioned on my homepage in the 'Book' section work as well. If all fails, I'll check into printing on demand for the interim.
 

john_s

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Being in Melbourne, I always try The Printed Image first. Also, it is worth phoning

Book Services Australia Pty Ltd
211 Bay St Brighton VIC 3186
ph: (03) 9596 8742

because even if they haven't got something in stock they are quite obliging about locating a book.

Then there's Amazon. Shipment to the End of the Earth costs a bit and might only be worthwhile if you buy some other books. Or maybe some CDs.
 

RalphLambrecht

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Mick

Thank you very much for bringing this up. I obviously had to check with the publisher and here is his response:

Our accountants, who were in last week, are very happy with us, the bank also seems very happy with their monthly reports and we have not only booked normal 72 sq metre space at the major UK photo/imaging show 'Focus on Imaging 2007', we have also got 'Photokina 2006' and the 'Frankfurt book Fair 2006' in our diary along with the 'London Book Fair 2007', so it looks like we are staying in business for the longer term.

Having just shipped copies of 'Way Beyond Monochrome' - amongst other titles - to our South African distributor l guess this might be a clue that we are in reasonable condition. Also, having recently shipped copies of 'Way Beyond Monochrome' to our photo trade distributor in the USA, to our distributor in Italy, to the premier photo/imaging book shop in Germany, to various retailers in the UK - including 'Borders' - as well as the major wholesalers 'Gardner's' and 'Bertrams' who are the main suppliers to 'Amazon' and the likes of 'W.H.Smith' and 'Waterstones' l guess we have enough of a debtors schedule in books alone to pay the rent for a while.

What is correct is that some time ago our Australian market distributor went into receivership and we had to claw back all our stock, but that was nothing at all to do with Newpro, its a local Australian thing that happens everyday in all sorts of markets around the world.

So to sum up. We are alive and kicking. Yes, we have a lot going on and frankly we are too busy to go into receivership.

One final matter, the ISBN of 'Way Beyond Monochrome' is 0863433545, and we can accept Visa or MasterCard, if required, and we ship word-wide if potential customers have problems in their local market.

Tomorrow l will be in the office just to make sure we are still here!

Kindest regards Chris
www.newprouk.co.uk <http://www.newprouk.co.uk>

Maybe this helps to clear the issue with your local source. Again, only a few hundred left at the moment.
 

Mick Fagan

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Ralph,

Well I spoke to them on the telephone, as they rang me to get a clearer picture. In the morning (Monday) I'll telephone them and inform them of the latest developments.

Many thanks for getting this information to me.

I'll keep you posted.

Mick.
 

macskako

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Hi Pedro,

I have just bought a Minolta enlarger and I would like to use it with multigrade papers.
May I ask you, what results have you got and how do you use this enlarger to control the contrast? I mean what filter values do you use?
 

pdeeh

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You should find that the manufacturer of the paper includes a list of Y or Y/M values with the datasheet for grades from 0-5.

(also notice that this thread was started in 2006 and the last post to it was also in 2006! You may want to start a new thread of your own - and welcome to APUG!)
 

macskako

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Thanks!
I use Foma variant. Neither Foma nor Ilford gives Y/M values for Minolta enlargers.
Earlier I used Ilford filters which were very easy, but with the diachoric head is very complicated. When I change the value of the filters, I change the amount of the light and the ISO speed of the paper. I dont even know how many stops I change with the filters.
 

MartinP

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A bit of googling suggests that the Kodak group of filter numbers will work for the Minolta.

The actual Foma filters are not speed matched (and use double filters for the extreme grades) but, as a starting point, you could try the Multigrade suggestions for neutral density and grade from the Ilford website. If that doesn't work out, then making two exposures - one max yellow and one max magenta - will give you some sort of system which you can repeat (the infamous split-grade idea). Many people, me included, also use the Ilford under-lens filters with white light from the colour-head to print on various brands of variable-contrast paper.

Maybe the OP is still in his darkroom?
 
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