I am taking a photo class here at Southern Oregon University.... I feel to dumb to ask the prof this Question... so I'm asking ya' all.... someone please explain using filters when in the dark room....

-- Kimberly Meithof (meit2590@tao.sou.edu), October 15, 1997

Answers

Kimberly,

1. You've probably heard this a million times, but I'll say it again - There's no such thing as a dumb question. Don't be afraid to ask your teacher about anything. When I first starting taking classes, filters were confusing to me too. My teacher kept referring to them with words like "use a yellow" and then "try more yellow." The why's and what's didn't compute for me. Think of your teacher as an "instructor" rather than a "professor", he/she is human too.

2. Filters' primary purpose is to control contrast. Generally they are numbered, and often sets will have half steps as well for more control. The bigger the number of the filter used, the greater the resulting contrast in your print. The smaller the number, the lower the resulting contrast. There are also filters for other effects such as diffusion, etc., but I assume that you are only referring to polycontrast or multigrade filters only.

I hope this helps. Anyone else care to elaborate?

-- Fred Schmidt (driko@ix.netcom.com), October 15, 1997.

Just to expand a little...

Multicontrast B&W papers use yellow and magenta to control contrast. More yellow gives lower contrast. More magenta gives higher contrast.

Different filter sets use different numbering systems. For example "05Y" is a weak yellow, "40Y" is a stronger yellow.

Some filters are low quality, and should only be used above the lens. Others are higher quality, and can be used above or below the lens.

-- Alan Gibson (gibson.al@mail.dec.com), October 16, 1997.