Problem with Durst AC800 and B&W multigrade papers

[Czornyj]

I recently bought Durst AC800 enlarger - it's perfect for color negatives, but when working with B&W it can only be calibrated for medium gradation, and I can't find the way to use color filters while exposureing multigrade papers (in B&W mode only density channel can be corrected). Does anyone know some workaround of that issue?

[JeanMichel]

Hi,

Ideally you would use actual multicontrast filters, but you can use the enlarger's colour filters to control the contrast.
Here is the information that Ilford provided some years ago.
For Durst Colour Heads:

Contrast 0 use 110Y
1/2 use 90Y
1 use 70Y
1 1/2 use 30Y
2 use no filtration
2 1/2 use 30M
3 use 45M
3 1/2 use 55M
4 use 95M
4 1/2 use 130M
5 apparently that contrast is not available using a Durst head; for an Omega head they recommend 150M

I Hope that this helps you.

Jean-Michel

[Czornyj]

Hi,

Ideally you would use actual multicontrast filters, but you can use the enlarger's colour filters to control the contrast.
Here is the information that Ilford provided some years ago.
For Durst Colour Heads:

Contrast 0 use 110Y
1/2 use 90Y
1 use 70Y
1 1/2 use 30Y
2 use no filtration
2 1/2 use 30M
3 use 45M
3 1/2 use 55M
4 use 95M
4 1/2 use 130M
5 apparently that contrast is not available using a Durst head; for an Omega head they recommend 150M

I Hope that this helps you.

Jean-Michel

Thanks!
The problem is more prosaic - the enlarger is so smart and computerised, that I can't figure out how to set color filtration for B&W exposures at all

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

Thanks!
The problem is more prosaic - the enlarger is so smart and computerised, that I can't figure out how to set color filtration for B&W exposures at all

How do you set it for color printing? Can't you specify Y and M filter values? The enlarger doesn't need to know that you are printing B&W.


I never used a big Durst, so a description of what settings are available might help.

Eric

[Paul Eby]

I recently bought Durst AC800 enlarger - it's perfect for color negatives, but when working with B&W it can only be calibrated for medium gradation, and I can't find the way to use color filters while exposureing multigrade papers (in B&W mode only density channel can be corrected). Does anyone know some workaround of that issue?

Have you tried sandwiching an unexposed (developed) strip of colour film with the b&w neg then print in colour mode? We used to do this back in the day of film 1hr. print processors.  - Paul