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How to Enable Split Filters

When creating black-and-white photographic prints in the darkroom, you may find it difficult to find the best contrast for your print. If you are using a darkroom enlarger, you can make use of filters to adjust your contrast. For example, the #0 filter provides the lowest contrast, while the #5 filter provides maximum contrast. You can use a combination of these two filters in a process called "Split Filter Printing," which may help you find the best contrast.

Things You'll Need

Darkroom (with enlarger)
Variable contrast (VC) photo paper
#0 photographic filter
#5 photographic filter

Instructions

- 1
  Enter the darkroom. Place your film in the enlarger for processing, along with the VC photo paper and the #0 filter. This sheet will serve as a test sheet to determine the amount of time needed before the picture begins to show detail. Make note of the time needed once you have completed the step.
- 2
  Place another sheet of VC photo paper and the #0 filter into the enlarger and process the film again for the same amount of time determined in Step 1. After that amount of time has passed, remove the #0 filter and insert the #5 filter. This sheet will serve as a test sheet to determine the amount of time needed before the picture becomes as black as possible. Make note of the time needed once you have completed the step.
- 3
  Print the final split filter image by placing a third sheet of VC photo paper in the enlarger and processing it with the #0 filter for the amount of time determined in Step 1, then processing the same sheet with the #5 filter for the amount of time determined in Step 2.

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