i just picked up a 1987 durst 605 that had been sitting in my grandfather's house unused for years, it's in great shape and i'm eager to see what it can do, it has the color mixing head and i'm wondering if anyone knows where i can find the filter settings for simulating different contrast grades (for ilford multigrade rc)? the manual had an insert with settings for some older discontinued papers but i figure someone may be using this with current materials.... i've been using a beat up bogen 22 condensor (paid $60 for) enlarger for almost a year now and have recently been able to get nice predictable results from it so i'm kind of excited about how much "nicer" my new enlarger is but at the same time wondering if i'm taking a few steps backward in my printing evolution.... oh well, thanks for any help or tips on this

joe

-- Joe Holcombe (joe1013_@excite.com), November 27, 2001

Answers

Filter settings are usually included in the spec sheets in packages of paper.

Note that none of that is precise; one manufacturers' #2 is anothers' #1 etc. Generally speaking, no filter is #1.5-#2, more magenta is higher contrast, more yellow is lower contrast. Forget grades; use the filtration that's needed.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), November 27, 2001.

I've also just had a second-hand m605 with colour head come into my possession - I used it for the first time last night!

I've found two different tables of filter settings on the web:

* Ilford includes a table in its Multigrade paper infosheet (the link is at http://www.ilford.com/html/us_english/bw.html).

* JOBO includes a table in its FAQ (http://www.jobo- usa.com/faq/durst_variable_contrast_printing.htm)

-- Marion McCutcheon (marion_mccutcheon@yahoo.com.au), December 06, 2001.