Pantyhose (enlarger lens diffusion)

[Bob Carnie]

Gerald
It is called a Pictrol and I use it all the time on the camera and on the enlarging lens.
Only problem is the diameter is only good up to 90mm lens on enlarger so it is tough to use on 4x5.
one of its great attributes is the sharp center to controllable softer edges.

They used to make a plastic contraption which clamped to the enlarging lens. Turning it would bring clear plastic fingers into the light path. The more they were in the light path the greater the amount of diffusion.

 

[joshverd]

You should check out using vellum(tracing paper) in contact with the paper. Varying distance between vellum and paper give more/less diffuse results that still retain a bit of sharpness when in contact. Really nice.

 

[Ole]

... A 180mm Voigtländer WZ, of course - to the best of my knowledge, the only intentionally soft enlarger lens ever made!

- And the WZ has some odd thread that doesn't fit any of my enlarger boards, and the flange doesn't fit any of my enlargers. Maybe it's S. K. Grimes-time...

In the meantime, I'll revert to using the anti-newton half of Gepe 6x6 slide mounts (with AN glass). Adjust the amount of diffusion by time, about 1/3 of the exposure works great for portraits. I showed that trick to one of the top portrait photographers in Norway - he stopped using pantyhose and bought a box of slide mounts.

 

[FrankB]

I've heard it said, but never tried it, that the frosted-glass shelf from a fridge makes a good diffuser. Experiment by using it for only part of an exposure, or part of a split-grade exposure.

...and post your results, please - I'm curious.