Chromium intensifier vs Silver intensifier

[Steve Goldstein]

Not long ago I found a filter that prints with even higher contrast than an Ilford #5 or a Rosco 68 - the Rosco 384. The #5 and R68 print with near-identical contrast with my Aristo V54-equipped cold light head, just a slight speed difference, but the R384 is significantly more contrasty; it also needs a much longer exposure. It's not quite like Agfa Brovira #6 (remember that?) but it got me the print I was after when nothing else would, without touching the one negative I have of the scene.

[Doremus Scudder]

There is also the bleach and redevelop with Pyrocat method for increasing contrast. I would also check your head and its filters to make sure you still get grade 5. I once used a VC head in a shared darkroom that would never print more than grade 3 filters unless I used under the lens filters.

+1

I've had good luck with bleach/redevelop, but you need a staining developer to get extra contrast (PMK, Pyrocat, etc.).

It's no use selenium intensifying a negative developed in a staining developer. The intensification removes the stain and you're back to square one. Use bleach/redevelop instead.

Do check for contrast-killers as suggested above. Make a print in total darkness to eliminate both safelight fog and the Herschel effect.

FWIW, a Wratten #47B gives me significantly more contrast than 170M on my Chromega heads. If you haven't tried that, do.

A combination of the above may be needed, e.g., bleach/redevelop and then a #47 filter when printing.

Best,

Doremus