SEE BELOW FOR THE LATEST SPLITGRADE SOFTWARE! version 2.3

“I bought a splitgrade-controller last year for my Leitz V-35 after reading an article in Leica Photographie magazine. I was very sceptical, but this piece of equipment is everything you say it is, even for the most creative printer. The Heiland controller has saved me many hours in the darkroom already, not to mention the cost of paper and chemicals. I'm making the best prints ever and having lots of fun. Hope you sell a bunch of 'em.”
Ronald Wills

The Heiland Splitgrade is a new electronic system that saves frustration, time and materials by automating the non-artistic parts of the variable contrast printing process. It will automatically evaluate the negative projected on the easel, choose the contrast grade and exposure time, and then perform the exposure using its own mechanized filter module installed in the enlarger lamp head.

The Splitgrade can make a classically correct work print first time every time. Or it can be adjusted to make the user's own variation of the "correct" print first time. Variations on the first print are seamless and easy, modifying exposure and grade in tiny steps - .1 grade and either .1 stop or .1 sec. in exposure. No longer does the user have to make a series of test prints to get in the "ball park" before refining the image. The tedious chores of choosing grades in 1/2 steps, making exposure compensation between different filter grades, and dealing with inaccurate grade changes are no longer a required part of darkroom work. A roll of film taken in a variety of lighting conditions is now painless.

The standard Splitgrade consists of a controller, a probe, and a motorized filter module all connected electronically. The filter module is specifically made for each enlarger model and is mounted in place of the original enlarger manual filter mechanism.

To use, just press the "focus" button causing the enlarger lamp to come on with white light. After focusing and stopping down the lens, pass the probe across the easel, manually finding the extremes of the negative. A chirp is heard each time new data is encountered. Turn off the focusing light, put paper into the easel, and hit the print switch (or included foot switch). The Splitgrade will make two exposures, one with a yellow filter and one with magenta. The proportion of the exposure with the two filters produces the correct paper grade, while the overall timing produces the correct exposure. The unit comes programmed for a large variety of papers.

Splitgrades are available for the following enlargers, and a few European units rarely heard of in the U.S.

One Splitgrade can be configured to drive modules for multiple enlargers (not at the same time!) so the investment goes further.

We do not accept purchase orders from schools.

At the moment there are no units available (other than manual) for Beseler or Omega enlargers.

The "manual version" listed above can be used with any enlarger where the operator manually changes the filters. The DURST L1200 unit requires that the user supply their own lamphead and ship it back to the Heiland factory.

This is what George E. Todd took the time to say in his book "Elements of Black and White Photography: The making of 20 Images"...quoted with permission

Split-grade printing in extreme cases like these has been greatly simplified by an electronic device now available for a range of different enlargers, from 35mm to large format. Developed by Whilhelm Heiland in Wetzlar (home of Leica) Germany, this unique system ‘Splitgrade’ enables the user to produce a good print in one shot from any negative almost irrespective of its density range. My immediate reaction to trying ‘Splitgade’ was to remark: ‘the best thing since zip-fasteners!’

It works almost the same way (as I did manually for Hotel 1st Floor) by exposing the paper to filtered light selectively; first the hard grade, followed by the softer grades – though there seems to be difference in print values either way round. Splitgrade analyses the negative, selects an appropriate combination of filters and time to expose the variable contrast layers of the paper sequentially, via a built-in shutter mechanism. This auxiliary shutter features ensures that the lamp reaches its peak brightness before the exposure sequence begins, controlling the light output to a classic square0wace function so that the typical rise-time and afterglow of tungsten or halogen lamp is completely eliminated.

In practice, Splitgrade decided this negative needed a very soft grade(0) which is not surprising considering it’s long density range. By ignoring the window area’s peak values, I could set the time and grade to suit a density range of about 0.8, which called for the very hard grade this image needed, I settled for grade 4.8 and some slick dodging- a brief handwave over the deepest shadows.

The ability t use 1/10th grades, and similar f-stop or time intervals, makes Heiland’s ‘Splitgrade’ ideal for fine tuning image contrast. I believe that with normal, uncomplicated negatives, one could easily dispense with time-consuming test strips for run-of-the-mill jobs.

The Splitgrade gives the photographer two things of great value. It makes a test print on the first piece of paper and then allows rapid and intuitive variations to exposure and contrast to be made. By eliminating a large amount of "grunt" work it allows the photographer to get on with his real job - making the best interpretative print that he can.

A little bit more... I think that this product is ideal for most black and white photographers. Do not expect it to produce better prints than you can on your own - some will tell you that this is what it does - it will make a fine print, but not your own. It will not make your prints for you. What it will do is save enormous time and money.

A tiny bit more... For you who have B&W custom labs. The labs who have our Splitgrade love it! The first print is the finished product! The savings in labor and materials are fantastic.