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Printing B&W with a color head.. Is it a bad ideaa?

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J Rollinger

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Jan 31, 2009
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468
Location
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I'm picking up a Saunders LPL C7700 enlarger today and was going to sell it but thought maybe i could keep it set up for 6x7. Are their any issues i could face printing B&W on it. What about contrast filters?

Thanks
Jim
 
Color heads are great for printing B&W. You can use the magenta and yellow filters to adjust the contrast of VC B&W papers. The enlarger's manual and/or paper insert usually has a table of suggested filtrations, although these can vary from one enlarger/paper combination to another, so you should use it as a rough guide unless it's an exact match. If the enlarger has a filter drawer, you can of course use regular B&W contrast filters instead, but my impression is that most people find it easier to adjust the dials on the enlarger than to swap filters in and out.
 
That's all I use with my Omega B-22 enlarger!

Works terrific!
 
Thanks for the advice guys! Also I'm getting a print washer set (Durst Printo, modular system). Can i use the Durst Printo for B&W prints? Everything I'm getting is from a color Darkroom which i have no knowledge of color printing so i want to use what ever i can.
 
I spoke to soon i believe! I'm thinking that the Durst Printo is not a washer but a print processor.... I just might have to put that in the classifieds!
 
what ever washer you end up with will wash fiber or rc, times will variety of it is clueless about the paper type
 
I print with this enlarger, the only issue is that I don't think it can achieve grade 5, possibly grade 4 is the hardest maybe even 3.5
 
perkeleellinen said:
I print with this enlarger, the only issue is that I don't think it can achieve grade 5, possibly grade 4 is the hardest maybe even 3.5
Click to expand...

Small correction, because I'm picky sometimes.

Most color enlargers are fully capable of contrast up to grade 5. What they cannot quite deliver is the same contrast as a number 5 filter, but filter numbers only have a loose relationship to ISO contrast grades. An Ilford #5 filter on MGIV for example is equivalent to and ISO grade 6!
 
Thanks again to everyone for the help! I need to look at the items i but more carefully! The enlarger is not a C7700 like i thought. I just brought everything home and when i unwrapped the head i noticed that its a Saunders/LPL 670 dxl Dichroic. it looks almost brand new! I should have looked through everything but i got such a deal on everything i just loaded it up and left. The enlarger cames with 6x6 and 6x7 carriers, Nikon 75mm El-Nikkor 1:4 lens. I also got a Gralab 525 timer and foot switch. Also a nice print washer and a print processor w/extra gears and a 11x14 Saunders easel. All is in mint condition but i have not looked at the processor yet because i have no interest in it (going to classifieds). Is the Nikon 75mm and good? I was using 75mm Fujinon Ep that has a case of the fungus but I'm happy with the results! Does the Nikon compare to the Fujinon?

Thanks jim

003-1.jpg
 
It is a great idea. I use a Chromega Dichroic II 5D-XL for black & white. I like the fact that I can make small adjustment to contrast by moving a dial and not playing directly with filters.

Enjoy! :smile:

Steve
 
Sirius Glass said:
It is a great idea. I use a Chromega Dichroic II 5D-XL for black & white. I like the fact that I can make small adjustment to contrast by moving a dial and not playing directly with filters.

Enjoy! :smile:

Steve
Click to expand...

It also came with a box of Ilford filters but they are the under the lens type that i heard are not good.
 
A Saunders LPL 7700 MX in Canada is currently the same as an Omega/LPL 670MXL in the USA, so I wouldn't be surprised if the same situation applies to your new enlarger.

And the under the lens type Ilford filters are excellent, but not nearly as convenient as the colour head you will soon be enjoying.
 
MattKing said:
A Saunders LPL 7700 MX in Canada is currently the same as an Omega/LPL 670MXL in the USA, so I wouldn't be surprised if the same situation applies to your new enlarger.

And the under the lens type Ilford filters are excellent, but not nearly as convenient as the colour head you will soon be enjoying.
Click to expand...

Thanks Mat!
Everything came with the original manuals and the enlarger manual says C7700. I was told to never put a filter below the lens but now i should not need any filters anyways.
 
J Rollinger said:
I was told to never put a filter below the lens but now i should not need any filters anyways.
Click to expand...

As long as the filters are clean and not badly scratched they'll have no undesired effect on the image quality. I use an LPL C7700, sometimes with the built-in filters, sometimes with Ilford under-lens ones. Both have their pros and cons but all other things being equal you won't see a difference in image quality whichever way you choose. At least you have the choice!
 
In my experience, under-lens filters have no effect on sharpness, but they can definitely cause increased flare. However it's hard to say the effect of the flare, because you are correcting contrast with them anyway based on their effect. If you think any amount of added flare is bad, then you shouldn't use under-lens filters.
 
Same opinion here about under-the-lens filters. They are just fine.

Try the lens and see if it works for you. If I'm correct, it's an economy 4-element lens, and 6-element lenses are usually better. Stopping it down to f/8 will minimize the differences. having said that, there is often more difference from lens to lens of the same make than there is between lenses. You need to check it out. You got such a great deal, it might be worth looking into another lens if this doesn't meet your requirements.
 
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