[Leica] variable contrast paper

[firkin <firkin@netconnect.com.au>]

>> I know I am a loner here and that I will end my life on a deserted island
>> with a small pipeline of chemicals and some classical books on the craft of
>> Leica photography. I will even try to  write a new book on this topic. The
>> Economist wrote long ago (1996) the following: "So eventually, as with every
>> battle between digital and analogue, it is likely that digital will win.
>> Film will live on, but probably only in specialist use. Just as a few
>> diehards will still shun CD players and listen to vinyl discs thröugh
>> amplifiers, in years to come there will always one tourist in that group
>> high above Hong Kong who pulls out a battered Nikon F5 and delights in
>> informing everyone that photographs never look right unless they are made
>> from silver halide. For most people though, the chance to alter their
>> holiday's weather conditions after the event will win out every time."
>> Replace Nikon with Leica and the Economist journalist might have thougt of
>> me.
>> 

Erwin and Jim,

Well I'm with you. In a sense, I have to be, H would kill me if I did not
return to the darkroom, now that after all this time, it is finally ready to
"rock and roll". My initial problem is with supply. The local store used to
stock a great range of darkroom chemicals/paper etc, but even in the 7
months it has taken me to build the studio/darkroom, the supply has
dwindled, and I was "forced" to buy something called multigrade paper from
Ilford. Now I'm sure its great, and convenient, but I've never used
multigrade, so I'm in for a learning experience. Does anyone know how to use
the colour filters in a Durst enlarger to manipulate the contrast grade in
this "variable contrast" plastic 'paper'. If you have a scale I can start
with, please e-Mail me at

firkin@netconnect.com.au

so that I can print my Calla lilly leica b/w prints this weekend for my
sister ;-)

Cheers