SPLITGRADE® COMFORT Control Interface

SPLITGRADE®

The Product

SPLITGRADE® is a new system for fitting the paper grade to the various contrasts of different negatives. The range of the multigrade paper can be fine-tuned in 0.1 steps within the entire contrast range which the paper enables. This allows a very high reproduction rate. The microprocessor based controller calculates automatically the ratio of time for the different filters and also serves as the enlargement clock.

Basics for making fine art prints

Several influences characterise a photograph. Before taking a shot of the subject, the photographer recognises the subject contrast and the exposure time necessary for the film. Depending on the contrast, he controls the development to get a negative, which should have a target contrast of about 1 to 1.1 log. Density.
To make a print from this negative, the grade of the paper should be adjusted to fit the contrast of the negative. The ILFORD Multigrade paper is a fine solution to achieve this.
Fine Baryta paper is also available as Multigrade paper and it's a good idea to take advantage of this new technology.

Should you still be working with a conventional grade control system you may find several problems occur:

  1. Contrast filter sets enable steps of only 0.5 to 1 grade. Also they are not optimised to compensate the different light sources used in enlargers.
  2. When using infinite grade systems, the main disadvantage is that the range of possible grades is not linear. For a given change (i.e. 0.3 grades), most times you'll notice more change at extremely hard or soft grades than in the mid range of grades.
  3. Most systems have no exposure compensation when changing the grade.
  4. The photorapher has to experiment to find the optimum settings for his combination of film, enlarger, and paper.

Finding a solution to these problems has inspired us to develop the SPLITGRADE®.

Available for the listed enlargers:

  • AGFA Varioscope
  • AHEL 12 (4 x 5")
  • ARISTO variable contrast cold light source
  • BESELER 45 Colour or VC
  • DE VERE 504 and 507
  • DUNCO II 66 and 67
  • DURST Laborator 1200, Laborator 900, Laborator 138S (CLS301), Modular 70, M601, M605, M670, M700 Color, M707, M805, Multigraph, CLS1000/2000, 2501, 2506
  • ILFORD System 100, 500 and 600
  • KAISER System V
  • KIENZLE almost all models
  • LEITZ Focomat I-C, II-C and V 35
  • LPL/SAUNDERS/JOBO 7700 and 4x5 inch (745x/45xx)
  • MEOPTA Axomat, Opemus, Magnifax
  • OMEGA D5500, Super Chromega
  • PHILIPS P35 Color
  • ZONE VI VC cold light source

Supported Film types:

  • AGFA Multicontrast Classic FB
  • AGFA Multicontrast Premium RC
  • AMALOCO Varioprof
  • FOMA Variant III RC
  • FOMA Variant 311
  • FOMABROM Variant 111 FB
  • FOMATONE MG Classic 131 FB
  • ROLLEI Vintage 311
  • FORTE Polywarmtone semimatt FB, Polywarmtone RC, Polygrade V FB und Polygrade V RC
  • ILFORD Multigrade IV RC
  • ILFORD Multigrade IV FB
  • ILFORD Multigrade IV RC Cooltone
  • ILFORD Multigrade FB Warmtone
  • ILFORD Multigrade RC Warmtone
  • KENTMERE Fineprint VC (FB), Select (RC)
  • MOERSCH Select Sepia RC, FB
  • TETENAL Vario Fine Art und Baryt FB
  • TETENAL Vario Comfort RC und Ultra RC
  • ZONE VI Brilliant VC III

Other papers can be used with manual settings.

Technical data may change without notice.

www.heilandelectronic.de, Issue date: May 25rd, 2008

 

 

SPLITGRADE® COMFORT Control Interface

As accessory for your SPLITGRADE® Controller we are now offering the

  • convenient,
  • fast and
  • secure

SPLITGRADE® COMFORT Control Interface.

The development was mainly driven by customer demand asking for clearly visible displays, easy to operate handles, for exposure time and gradation setting as well as START/STOP/FOCUS functionality.
SPLITGRADE® COMFORT can be easily connected to your Controller. Also the foot switch can be connected and operated using the SPLITGRADE® COMFORT Control Interface.

New

The COMFORT Control Interface is equipped with a tone indicator. Using the implemented LED segments it is possible to pre-visualise the approximate density while changing paper grade and exposure time. In reference to the brightest and darkest areas of the final print the tone indicator will show the actual reading using the "Zone scale".

The operation using the COMFORT Control Interface is established by using control knobs with rest stop function. The additional switch functions i.e. START / STOP are achieved by pressing down the knobs.
The current value of paper grade, exposure time and number of burn-in time are shown using large and easy to read displays. The intensity of the displays can be controlled and will not expose black and white paper at all.
In order to locate the control knobs during your dark room sessions, those are placed in between the displays and illuminated symbols.

Exposure time, paper grade and burn-in times can be defined securely, fast and convenient using the SPLITGRADE® COMFORT Control Interface. All exposures can be started and stopped as before. Using the control interface will allow the full control of all your routine operations of SPLITGRADE® on a new comfort level.

Technical data may change without notice.

www.heilandelectronic.de, Issue date: March 18th, 2004