Black & White Film Filters

Camera Gear

Lens Filters Camera Accessories

Suggested Reading

David Busch's Quick Snap Guide to Photo Gear Photographic Lenses: Photographer's Guide to Characteristics, Quality, Use and Design

Black & White Film Filters
  Black & White Photography Filters Filters are often used in black and white photography as black and white are actually produced as tones of gray. Filters are used to make the gray tones look like the original scene. The sky and clouds often blend together in black and white photos as white, so filters are used to separate the two. A red filter can darken blue objects more than white objects. So if you use this filter the sky will look black in the photo and the clouds will still be white.
Formatt Yellow 1 Glass Filter for Black & White Film Commonly used for a noticeable increase in contrast with black and white films. If your print seems a bit "muddy", perhaps it needs a slight bump in contrast. Yellow filters are the first step on the contrast ladder to help that print along. Both scenery and skin tones will show more "snap" once this filter is applied. Contrast filters help with the control of gray tones that appear as light and dark tones in a print. This filter can also be used to minimize haze during aerial photography. Note! Formatt Yellow filters are available in grades of 1-3 with 3 having the greatest effect • Especially useful for added contrast between blue sky with clouds and foreground.
Formatt Yellow 2 Glass Filter for Black & White Film. Commonly used for a noticeable increase in contrast with black and white films. If your print seems a bit "muddy", perhaps it needs a slight bump in contrast. Yellow filters are the first step on the contrast ladder to help that print along. Both scenery and skin tones will show more "snap" once this filter is applied. Contrast filters help with the control of gray tones that appear as light and dark tones in a print. This filter can also be used to minimize haze during aerial photography. Note! Formatt Yellow filters are available in grades of 1-3 with 3 having the greatest effect • Especially useful for added contrast between blue sky with clouds and foreground.
Formatt Yellow 3 Glass Filter for Black & White Film. Commonly used for a noticeable increase in contrast with black and white films. If your print seems a bit "muddy", perhaps it needs a slight bump in contrast. Yellow filters are the first step on the contrast ladder to help that print along. Both scenery and skin tones will show more "snap" once this filter is applied. Contrast filters help with the control of gray tones that appear as light and dark tones in a print. This filter can also be used to minimize haze during aerial photography. Note! Formatt Yellow filters are available in grades of 1-3 with 3 having the greatest effect • Especially useful for added contrast between blue sky with clouds and foreground.
Formatt Green 2 Schott-Desag B270 Crown Optical Glass Filter for Black & White Film. Ideal for scenes where it is important to differentiate the green tonal values in black and white photography.

• A dark green filter that produces very light green subjects on black and white film • Also used for contrast effects (lightens green/darkens red).

Formatt Green 3 Schott-Desag B270 Crown Optical Glass Filter for Black & White Film. Ideal for scenes where it is important to differentiate the green tonal values in black and white photography.

• A dark green filter that produces very light green subjects on black and white film • Also used for contrast effects (lightens green/darkens red).

Formatt Light Yellow 6 Filter. Commonly used for an increase in contrast with black and white films. There are occasions when your image needs a subtle nudge - something to bring the contrast up. The #6 filter is the basic step on the contrast ladder and produces more "snap" in the image. If used with color film, it will render everything yellow producing a more pronounced surreal effect. • Enhances landscapes, marine scenes and aerial photography with more effect than a Yellow 3 filter • Especially useful for a noticeable increase in contrast between blue sky with clouds and foreground.
Formatt Yellow 8 Glass Filter. Commonly used for a noticeable increase in contrast with black and white films. There are occasions when your image needs even more than subtle nudge - something to bring the contrast up even more than a Yellow 6. The #8 filter is the next step up the contrast ladder and produces more "snap" than either the #3 or #6 filters. If used with color film, it will render everything yellow producing a more pronounced surreal effect. • Enhances landscapes, marine scenes and aerial photography with more effect than a Yellow 6 filter • Especially useful for a noticeable increase in contrast between blue sky with clouds and foreground.
Formatt Yellow 9 Glass Filter. Commonly used for a noticeable increase in contrast with black and white films. This is the middle of the 'Yellow' filter road and is considered the standard for such filtration. The #9 filter is the next step up the contrast ladder and produces more "snap" than either the #6 or #8 filters. It should be seriously considered as a basic addition to any gear bag or filter collection. If used with color film, it will render everything yellow producing a more pronounced surreal effect. • Enhances landscapes, marine scenes and aerial photography with more effect than a Yellow 8 filter • Especially useful for a noticeable increase in contrast between blue sky with clouds and foreground.
Formatt #11 Yellow/Green glass filter. Ideal for scenes where it is important to differentiate the green tonal values in black and white photography. • Especially suited to landscape photography because it enhances the light green color of the leaves • Due to its favorable effect on red tones, it is also suitable for portraits against the sky • Universal asset for all scenics • Darkens sky in contrast to clouds.
Formatt #12 Yellow glass filter. Commonly used for a noticeable increase in contrast with black and white films. When your black and white images are flat, throw on a contrast filter. Contrast in black and white is generally controlled by yellow, orange and red filters with red producing the greatest contrast. Moderate changes can be accomplished with yellow which can, generally, bump up the contrast just enough to make the difference between a "muddy" print and an acceptable image. • Especially useful for clear contrast between blue sky with clouds and foreground • Recommended as a basic filter for use with Kodak Aero Ektachrome Infrared film.
Formatt #13 Green Glass Filter. Commonly used for a noticeable increase in contrast with black and white films. When your black and white images are flat, throw on a contrast filter. Contrast in black and white is generally controlled by yellow, orange and red filters with red producing the greatest contrast. Moderate changes can be accomplished with yellow which can, generally, bump up the contrast just enough to make the difference between a "muddy" print and an acceptable image. • Especially useful for clear contrast between blue sky with clouds and foreground • Recommended as a basic filter for use with Kodak Aero Ektachrome Infrared film.
Format #15 Deep Yellow glass filter. Commonly used for a more than noticeable increase in contrast with black and white films. • Especially useful for clear contrast between blue sky with clouds and foreground • Enhances landscapes, marine scenes and aerial photography with more dramatic effects than Yellow 8.
Formatt #16 Orange glass filter Part of Formatt's basic contrast filter system. For a minimum contrast "push", use one of the yellow series. However, if yellow isn't enough, orange will, hopefully, do the trick. • Deeper than Yellow #15 for more dramatic effects • Especially useful for clear contrast between blue sky with clouds and foreground • Enhances landscapes, marine scenes and aerial photography.
Formatt #21 Deep Orange glass filter Darkens blue, violet, green and yellow-green. Whether you're a color addict or devoted black and white shooter, this is an excellent filter to keep handy. With black and white film, contrast will be significantly boosted. Clouds will jump off the frame in stark contrast to a blue sky. Blue lilies become richer and more saturated. Most of all, the green end of the spectrum turns more pronounced. With color, the addition of a deep orange filter to a simple sunset will enhance that image many times over making it more of a surreal scene. • Particularly useful for all landscape and architectural photography (on black and white film) requiring vivid contours • Sky will be distinctly toned with the clouds clearly contrasted against it. 
Formatt Light Red 23A Schott-Desag B270 Crown Optical Glass Filter for Black and White Film. for contrast effects, darkens sky and water, architectural photos.
Formatt Red 25 Glass Filter. Used when you want maximum contrast from your black and white photography. This filter absorbs green and can turn your simple scenic shots into dramatic presentations. When combined with a polarizing filter, the red filter can make a sky take on the mood of an impeding storm and is particularly useful when used for seascapes. If used with color film, this filter will turn everything red giving your sunset a more surreal and intense appearance. • Clouds are dramatically improved almost to the mood of a thunderstorm • Darkens blue sky creating dramatic contrast between sky and clouds • More effective in cutting through haze • Moonlight effects are easily accomplished • Creates greater contrast between foliage and flowers • Also suited for some infrared photography.
Formatt #29 Dark Red glass filter.  Iideal for strong contrast improvement since it absorbs green and blue completely and enhances red. In addition to contrast control, red filters enhance skin tones, tonal corrections and are effective for more dramatic landscapes. • Stronger than a #25 • Clouds are dramatically improved almost to the mood of a thunderstorm; Darkens blue sky creating dramatic contrast between sky and clouds • Use with Polarizer for dramatic black and white effects • It is more effective in cutting through haze, and moonlight effects are easily accomplished; Creates greater contrast between foliage and flowers • Used in scientific photography • Excellent copying filter for blueprints.
Formatt Blue 38 Filter.  Used to control contrast in black and white film. This filter is predominantly used to absorb red and some green. It can also be used for certain infrared applications (always check with film manufacturer's specifications).
Formatt #47 Dark Blue glass filter. it accentuates haze and fog. Many times a photographer wants to get rid of natural haze and fog and bring clarity to the image. However, there are times when it is desirable to enhance such effects. The #47 filter will not only keep the effect but take it to another level.
Formatt #56 Green glass filter. Ideal for scenes where it is important to differentiate the green tonal values in black and white photography. Want those red apples on that tree to stand out? The Green 56 will lighten the green leaves and enhance the red in the apples. • A green filter that produces light foliage on black and white film • Also used for contrast effects (lightens green/darkens red).
Formatt Green #58 Glass Filter. Used to control contrast in black and white film. This filter is ideal for scenes where it is important to differentiate the green tonal values in black and white photography. This is a green filter that produces light foliage on black and white film. It is also used for contrast effects (lightens green/darkens red).
Formatt #61 Dark Green glass filter. An unusual filter. This deep green tricolor filter can be used with No. 29 and 47 for tricolor projection (tungsten) and for color separation and tricolor printing work. It can also be used to lighten foliage even more than the #56 or #58 filters • Deep Green filter for color separation printing • Lightens foliage to the maximum degree.