i'm starting to get back in the darkroom after about a three month "sabbatical" and i'm using my new durst m605 w/ color head (i like it, nice to work with!) however, i'm noticing a good bit more grain/grain patterns on my new prints compared to my old tank condensor enlarger, is this normal? i've tried several lenses and it's not lenses related... i'm thinking i may need to cut back some on my developing time & agitation for negs, is this common for this printing change? any other tips for transitioning for condensor to dichloric?

thanks in advance!

joe

-- Joe Holcombe (joe1013_@excite.com), February 08, 2002

Answers

Response to do dichloric heads emphasize grain more than condensors?

Dichroic and other diffuse (cold light etc.) enlargers reveal less grain and contrast (about 1 paper grade) compared with condenser enlargers, with silver based film (Callier effect). When paper contrast or negative development is adjusted to make up for the contrast difference the grain is about the same. Maybe you are inadvertantly printing at a higher contrast or using a sharper f-stop on your enlarger lens. Or your new enlarger is better aligned or the neg carrier holds the neg flatter. A few other points: modern (since the 60's) thin emulsion films print just as sharply on a diffuse enlarger as a condenser. Diffuse enlargers reveal dust and surface blemishes on the neg less.

-- Tim Brown (brownt@flash.net), February 08, 2002.

Response to do dichloric heads emphasize grain more than condensors?

More grain should be evident with condensors versus the difussion light source. My hunch is that your new enlarger is better aligned and that you are not experiencing negative popping,(common with condensors) which will through the image slightly out of focus and thus making the grain less noticeable as well. I would say you've made a good move and if you closely compare a print of the same negative and size done with your old enlarger and the new Durst, you will see an improvementin quality and sharpness with the latter. Have fun!

-- jim (jimzpace@yahoo.com), February 08, 2002.

Response to do dichloric heads emphasize grain more than condensors?

I found that from going from an Omega D5 condensor lamp to a dichroic head on the same type enlarger that I have to print about 1/2 grade harder in order to get approximately the same contrast. Tim is right on the money regarding less of a problem with negative popping and related focus issues.

-- Jim Rock (jameswrock@aol.com), February 08, 2002.

thanks for the info, the better alignment answer seems to be my case, the new durst holds the negs perfectly flat b/n glass plates where the old one just let it sit out in the open...... i made some very sharp prints on the old condensor but my recent ones with the new enlarger have this nice 3d like quality that's hard to explain but a different look than the other.... i think need another month or so (ok, probably more) before i can get predictable results with the new durst.... then it's on to ilfochromes!

thanks again! joe

-- Joe Holcombe (joedat@bellsouth.net), February 12, 2002.

Can you let me know at which negative format and which print sise you observed "more grain" ?

I use 35mm film and I want there is no grain up to 20 inch print. Is it doable on the new enlarger you bought recently ?

-- GSHI (gshi@citiz.net), June 04, 2002.