Ilford Multigrade Darkroom Filters (00-5) 6×6

Contrast control with multigrade and variable contrast black & white photographic papers can be achieved in several ways. One of the most widely used ways is through the use multigrade or variable contrast hand filters.

A magenta filter absorbs green light and transmits blue;
A yellow filter absorbs blue light and transmits green. 
In this way, high and low contrast images can be made. Ilford produces twelve multigrade filters that are numbered 00 – 5 in 1/2 steps, with the lowest filter number corresponding to the softest contrast.

Filters are available in sets of filters 3-1/2 x 3-1/2″ (8.9 x 8.9cm) and 6 x 6″ (15.2 x 15.2cm ). They can be used above or below the lens and can be cut to fit the enlarger filter drawer.

Filter sizes 12 x 12″ (30 x 30cm ) are available to special order.

Multigrade filters are very easy to use: no complicated calculations are needed when changing from one filter to another. The exposure time for filters 00 – 31/2 is the same; that for filters 4 – 5 is double.