 BetterPhoto Member |
Enlargers I have just installed some enlargers but when it comes to printing images they come out flat and grey. When I print contact sheets they come out great, wiht excellent contrast. when I try to print out images they are incredibly flat help. Do I need to put a filter in or what help!!!
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Ashleigh Whorpole |
Contact sheets are very differnt from your prints. Prints will be larger and therefor, will require you to adjust the setting slightly. The only time that a filter would be needed is if you exposure are off. If you are a beginner, filters will become your friend and will fix any flops that you have made when setting the shutter speed and apperture of that particular picture. Enjoy!
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- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
That's not entirely true. You need contrast filters for black and white. They come in different colors from light yellow to decrease contrast, to light purple for normal contrast, to red for high contrast. Black and white paper has two layers of emulsions that respond to different colors. If you make an enlargement without contrast filters, you won't get the crispness that's great about black and white. That's why when people take black and white to a regualr lab, they are disappointed when they get their pics back, because they just get a straight print without and use of contrast filters.
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Matthew D. Koller |
Are you using the same paper for your contact sheets as your final prints. If not make sure the paper has not been exposed. Filters definately have their place and make the print in some cases. I Recomend Determining your Maximum Black Test for the paper you use and all variables(chemicals,enlarger height.....). If you do not get good results at that point I would look at your negatives. Tmax Films and Developer are extremely easy to work with. Expose for the shadows and develop for the highlights. However to resolve your problem Bracket and give a little extra development time / temp. Just be carefull not to completely blow out your highlights. If you have your negs processed at a lab, that could be your problem. A definate must is to shoot with filters for black and white film. I nearly always shoot with at least a yellow#8 Try stacking it with a polarizer.
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