I have both Kodak and Ilford filters. I bought both because I understood that each brand of filter worked better with that company's paper.

Now I'm going to use some Agfa FB VC paper, and wonder if choice of the Ilford or Kodak filters will make a significant difference. In other words, which should I use, and does it make any difference which one?

Thanks.

-- Paul Arnold (osprey@bmt.net), August 31, 2000

Answers

In my experience the different brands of filters are quite interchangable. They do however, age, and then they don't work well with any brand of paper!

-- Conrad Hoffman (choffman@rpa.net), August 31, 2000.

I agree. What is a grade 2.5 on Ilford papers may turn out to a grade 4 on Seagull or a 1.5 on Agfa. Get comfortable with one paper. Used to be, Ilford filters were matched densities. What I mean by that is that with Ilford filters if you printed with a 1.5 and decided you wanted to go to a 2.5, you didn't have to make time corrections. I hear that Kodak has finally caught on though.

-- Scott Walton (scotlynn@shore.net), September 03, 2000.

When I started using Agfa paper I ordered a set of Agfa filters. The Ilfords I had certainly worked but the steps and spacing were different between the two papers. By comparing the filters themselves I could see there is a significant difference in tint and density.

Cheers,

-- Duane K (dkucheran@creo.com), September 15, 2000.

Actually why not get all types of filters, that way you can mix and match to get more grades of paper.

What I would do, is to get a set of color filters. ANd then calibrate my paper (see Ctein's "Post Exposure"). Then you are not restricted to certain grades, you just change the contrast up or down as you need. Just like someone with a color head does. The one downside is that you will have to make exposure changes due to filter factor.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), September 17, 2000.