I heard that that the quality is better from using a variable contrasr cold light head versus a cold light head with variable contrast filters. Specifically, that for some reason the cold light head with variable contrast filters make the tones dump in the blacks? Anyone have any knowledge/experience with this? Thanks.

-- Har-Prakash Khalsa (hpk@log.on.ca), June 28, 1999

Answers

As I understand it, the filters are designed for tungsten light sources, and the cold light heads are not tungsten sources. So the color balance is off, giving you skewed contrast results.

-- Terry Carraway (TCarraway@compuserve.com), July 01, 1999.

That's the story I've heard too. I think the different colors of cold lights and condensors give different contrast levels. Seeing as how the contrast filters run from yellow to magenta, they probably also act as absorbers of the blue end of the cold light spectrum. However, it is possible to work around that through filtration. I think Anchell's book on variable contrast printing has some info on this (and I think he gives the correction filters Howard Bond and Joe Englander suggest which might prove good starting points). I use a standard cold light with filters and make out OK. I suspect there is also a question of personal aesthetics and calibration involved. Hope this helps. DJ

-- N Dhananjay (ndhanu@umich.edu), July 07, 1999.

Cold light heads can work very well with variable contrast filters, but if you buy a used cold light head, you need to replace the fluorescent tube with one of the newer models which is designed to work with VC filters. I'm not sure what you have in mind by "dump in the blacks" but what the cold light will do is stretch out the contrast range a bit and also help with the Callier effect (problems with highlights using condensers). David

-- David L. DuPuy (dupuy@rockbridge.net), July 25, 1999.

Had and used Zone VI cold lite head with VC filters-big jumps between filters biggest hassle. Not full range, because the flo tube (at least in my head) didn't have the right spectrum spread. Now have an Aristo VC head-world of difference.

At least get the right tube.

-- Tim Francisco (ciscopix@ix.netcom.com), November 18, 1999.