Gast
Hello,
I have a quick question about contrast control on the Fomatone Classic MG.
I’ve already tried to find out more on the Foma website,
but it’s just left me even more confused. To clarify,
I use a Kaiser colour head up to 130M for gradient control
(similar to Dunco, Durst ...). Now, the Fomatone data sheet states
which colour values should be used for which gradient; these are
completely different from those for Ilford Multigrade paper (which I can understand).
Unfortunately, however, no extension factors for the exposure are given.
But another table in the data sheet states that the Ilford
Multigrade filter set can also be used for exposure, analogous to the
Ilford system (that simply cannot be the case if the yellow and magenta
values for the same gradient are different). Added to this is the problem
that with Foma, Grade 3 is the standard, whereas with Ilford, following the Anglo-Saxon
system, it is Grade 2. Forgive me for asking, but I’m completely confused.
My question is simply this: how do you handle it? Foma values (if so,
what extension factors?) or the same as for Ilford?
Regards, Benjamin
Gast
Hi Benjamin,
In this case, trial and error is the way to go. The Y/M filter values are NOT the same for any paper, and on top of that, the paper gradation specifications provided by manufacturers are little more than rough estimates. Nevertheless, all papers can be processed using the Ilford filter set. It doesn’t matter at all whether you’ve enlarged a negative with a gradient of 1 on Kodak or with a gradient of 3 on Multigrade (what’s ‘normal’ anyway?). In isolated cases, you might not be able to achieve the extreme gradients (00 or 5) with a particular filter set, but such negatives aren’t exactly top-notch anyway.
Ferdinand
