Peter Try a tri-color blue filter (not your ?grade¹ 5 filter) that will give you maximum paper contrast. If that does not work you can try a different paper developer or a different dilution or a masking technique. Why are you against selenium toning? It won¹t give you much beyond half a grade but why not try it? Also, are you using fresh paper? Paper gets ?softer¹ with age. Regards Ralph W. Lambrecht http://www.darkroomagic.com On 2005-09-18 16:05, "Peter Badcock" <peter.badcock@xxxxxxxxx> wrote: > Hi there, > I was printing up a photo tonight, from a roll of 35mm HIE and I have a dark > windmill set against a blue sky. Because I had an R72 (89b) IR Filter on, the > blue sky is very dark - which is quite typical of IR shots. > > The film has already been developed and I am now printing using Ilford MG IV > RC pearl paper. Even if I use a grade 5 filter, I can't seen to get > sufficient contrast between the dark sky and the windmill blades. I can scan > the print in tomorrow if it helps woth suggestions, but without changing paper > brands or doing (selenium) toning, is there anything else I could try to get > an increase in local contrast to make the windmill blades stand out more > against the sky? > > regards > Peter >