Colour Enlargers

Calibration figures for single-filter settings on colour enlargers.

These figures can be used as starting points for your own calibration. We actually recommend the use of dual-filtration to keep exposure times reasonably constant across the grades, but the use of single filters will reduce exposure times considerably for medium contrast grades.

Paper type 

Grade 

00

0

1

2

3

4

5

Ilford Multigrade IV
Resin coated

Offset

11

5

-2

-20

-9

-4

-1

Contrast

157

140

125

110

84

68

55

Ilford Multigrade IV
Fibre based

Offset

11

5

-2

-18

-8

-1

2

Contrast

150

137

122

105

85

63

50

Ilford MG
Warmtone RC

Offset

23

16

10

-8

2

9

15

Contrast

172

153

132

116

98

71

57

Kodak Polymax II
RC

Offset

11

5

4

-18

-9

-3

1

Contrast

142

135

106

104

85

68

53

Agfa Multicontrast
Premium RC

Offset

11

4

-2

-21

-15

-9

-5

Contrast

166

136

120

105

100

80

66

Agfa Multicontrast
Classic FB

Offset

11

5

-2

-19

-9

-3

1

Contrast

172

145

130

112

95

73

62

Kentmere Fineprint
VC FB

Offset

13

5

-2

-21

-14

-10

-14

Contrast

153

130

107

102

91

78

83

Filter settings (Kodak units)

Grade 

00

0

1

2

3

4

5

Filter   

150Y

100Y

60Y

-

30M

80M

160M

Please note: The above figures are to be regarded as starting points only, and actual values will depend on the characteristics of your enlarger, your working methods and materials.