Colour enlarger to do BW

[Vick Ko]

A colour enlarger can do BW, is that right?

It just isn't optimized for BW, but with the right filter settings, it can do BW? And, with the yellow/magenta adjustments, it should do VC paper.

regards
Vick

[bob carnie]

Yes any colour enlarger with filters will do quite well.

[jp]

I prefer color enlargers (dichroic), for adjusting contrast.

[Greg Y]

Lot's of love for the Durst 138 w/ colour head!

[Oren Grad]

It just isn't optimized for BW...

Turn the filtration to zero, and it's just as optimized for graded B&W as any other light source. Dial in as much M or Y as you need, and it's very convenient for variable contrast B&W paper. I've been using the LPL 4500II with color head to print my B&W for 18 years now, and I've never felt a need for anything else.

[neil poulsen]

Dial in only Magenta for higher contrast; dial in only Yellow for lower contrast. In each case, dial in just as much as you need. In using a color enlarger for B&W printing, I don't really think in terms of contrast grades.

[WayneStevenson]

It's what I use. Though if you're using VC, and print split-grade, it does complicate things due to bumps and moving the head while changing filtration in the dark.

[Jay DeFehr]

Paired with a color analyzer/timer, a color head can't be beat for use with VC papers, and especially for enlarging stained negatives.