Printing multigrade with Leica Focomat V35 color module

ANelles · Jun 15, 2017

It's been 10 years since I've printed in a darkroom, I've mostly been scanning negs and sending out for printing. I recently picked up a Leica Focomat V35, and I'm setting up a small basement darkroom. Very excited to get back into this.
The Leica Focomat V35 came with only the color module. Sadly, I will only be printing black and white with it. I was curious if anyone has had success dialing in filter grades with this specific model enlarger's color head? And if there is a chart of settings that I can match up to filters.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks!

ANelles · Jun 15, 2017

Might have answered my own questions, found this chart. Think this is in the right ballpark?

Many thanks again.

Patrick Robert James · Jun 15, 2017

You might want to just use below the lens filters from Ilford, or try to find a multigrade head. Ilford filters are speed matched so you can change grades without changing your exposure. Much simpler and it is faster to change filters if you split print.

Hope that helps you.

destroya · Jun 16, 2017

I love the results I get with mine using the Dichro head. so far i have not had any issues when doing split filter printing with the head moving. the enlarger is a real fine tuned machine and gives me great results. Enjoy it. when you buy ilford paper, in the box will be their recommendation for filter settings and they have been perfect for me, just see the link in the post above mine

ANelles · Jun 21, 2017

Sounds good, thanks! I'll be breaking it in on some Ilford paper this weekend.

mgb74 · Jun 22, 2017

There are 2 approaches to using your dichro filtration for multigrade papers. One is to use Yellow and Magenta as the chart you posted indicates. The other approach uses just one filter (yellow I believe). If I recall correctly, the advantage of using both yellow and magenta is to keep the exposure relatively constant across the contrast range. So that approach is generally recommended.

Ronald Moravec · Jun 24, 2017

speed match works for grey, not white or black. I use white to adjust exposure and then add yellow or magenta to adjust contrast.

The advantage is just a small amount of filtration is used and little light loss. If you try to speed match, lots of neutral density is added to all grades and lots of light is adsorbed.

I use my color module and the VC module lives in a cabinet except for when I do split grade when 1 and 5 extremes only are used USUALLY.

ANelles · Jun 26, 2017

Printed my first batch of prints last night, all went well. The chart of values worked mostly ok, exposure time was consistent across it, but contast overall felt a little low overall. I was working at higher grades than what I recall being normal in the past. Maybe a full grade overall.

Split grade printing was a breeze, results were great, I'll probably just stick with that.

Printing multigrade with Leica Focomat V35 color module

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