Ilford Multigrade Filters Fading!!!???

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Do Ilford Multigrade filters fade? I have just found that my #4 though #5 Multigrade filters don't work anymore. I have the mounted set that comes in a plastic case with the translucent top. The set is about six years old. To make a long story short, my prints started looking lousy, it finally dawned on me that my filters were acting funny. I.e. I did not have to increase the exposure when I went to the #4 through #5 filters, and the contrast was not picking up. When I borrowed a new set I saw what had happened. I only tested the high contrast filters, don't believe the other ones were as effected. I keep the filters in my studio, which is only darkened when I print or develop. So, they are exposed to daylight. While I do keep them in the box......Anyhow. Does anybody have any experience with this? How long do filters last - if this is a common occurrence - 2 years? 3 years? Sure would appreciate input on this.

Many thanks!

-- Christian Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), January 24, 2000

Answers

Yep, they sure do.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), January 24, 2000.

Johm. any more info on this? Until recently I've been using my 18year old MG filters and they seem fine to me... I recently got a box of junk with an enlarger I bought and it contained some MG II filters that I'v read (and in practice seems correct) have equal speed with MG IV paper (grades 0-3 1/2 same, 4-5 half the speed) where the MG I filters with MG IV alter the speed by grade according to the MG IV instructions.

-- Nigel Smith (nlandgl@eisa.net.au), January 25, 2000.

No other info other than that it's well-known that MG (and CP for that matter) filters fade; the result with MG filters will generally be that what should be a #4 gives only maybe #2.5 contrast, for example.

The concept of speed matching uses middle grey as the tone that's held constant; imho that's rather less than useful. Ideally it'd be just under paper-base white.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), January 25, 2000.


Hi - many thanks for the input. I am happy to know I am not going nuts yet.

-- Christian Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), January 26, 2000.

I'm curious. Has the appearance of the filters changed or only the functioning? I have a set bought in the late '70s or early '80s which have been stored dark in the cardboard box which contains the clear and white plastic box. They appear to be a dense as ever and the colors haven't shifted. But I'm relying on my memory and haven't actually used them since about 1982 but have been sorting negatives lately to do some printing.

-- Josef Brugger (jbrugger@teleport.com), January 27, 2000.


Yes, the filters have actually faded. I compared the new set I just got with the old, but otherwise I would not have noticed. Of course the tip off was that my prints did not have the increased contrast when I went to the higher filter. For some reason, the thought that the filters were fading just escaped me for a long time. The other tip-off was that the exposure time for the #4 and #5 filters did not need an increase.

-- Christian Harkness (chris.harkness@eudoramail.com), February 09, 2000.

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