i have just had a roll of b/w film professionaly developed and printed with good results, however when i enlarge a photo in my own darkroom i cant reproduce the same contrast (the photo is a singer on stage with a black background - i cant get the black to be black without the singers face going grey) the 5x4 lab print is perfect. The lab would not of 'dodged' the prints, however the lab used glossy kodak paper where i used ilford multigrade pearl.

The paper and chemicals are fresh (all ilford) the film is tmax3200, the paper is multigrade 4, with multigrade 2 filters hand held under the lens. Any advice

-- phil dawson (pd333@hotmail.com), June 05, 2000

Answers

Response to black & white ptinting

Greetings,

As you have stated, you are not getting the correct contrast. You should set you exposure time to give the correct values in the singer's face (high light) then adjust your contrast to get black. The only problem you may encounter is that your printing time may change as you change filters. Despite what some manufacturers say, you results may prove differently and you may need to change exposure time when changing between filters. Good luck.

Regards,

-- Pete Caluori (pcaluori@hotmail.com), June 05, 2000.

Response to black & white ptinting

Phil, A copule of issue here. Raise the contrast of the filter you are using, maybe a 4 or 5 ? Also, the paper you are using (pearl surface) although a nice paper, can not acheive the same level of visual contrast as a glossy surface paper your lab used. Thirdly - when enlarging an image it is often necessary to increase the contrast to acheive a similar looking print.

-- Jim megargee (jmegargee@nyc.rr.com), June 05, 2000.

Response to black & white ptinting

How old are you filters?

I just learned a while ago that filters do fade and don't give you the punch they did when new.

chris

-- Christian Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), June 05, 2000.

Response to black & white ptinting

thanks for all the advice, i'm back in the dark room and will post the results here.

thanks

-- phil dawson (pd333@hotmail.com), June 07, 2000.