[pure-silver] Re: VC printing equipment Was: Replacement forBromofort paper;
- From: DarkroomMagic <info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: PureSilverNew <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 25 Dec 2004 02:18:09 +0100
Subjective evaluation of reflection densities is difficult. Backing off a
step from paper-white is probably OK (the eyes are very good at the
highlight end), but unfortunately, doing this on the dark end of the scale
proves rather complicated and unreliable.
I suggest the use of limited controlled lighting with or without a
densitometer. I have a 100W bulb in my darkroom, which I use to evaluate
prints at a distance of 6 feet. Prints checked under these conditions have
good exposure and contrast. If you use too bright of a light source, you can
separate shadows to no end, and final prints always turn out too dark and
too contrasty. (Just try to hold undistinguishable shadows directly against
a light bulb. You'll be able to separate them with no trouble at all).
From a guy who's favorite negative was made by Stouffer (unfortunately).
Regards
Ralph W. Lambrecht
On 12/24/04 10:24 PM, "J.R. Stewart" <jrstewart@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Thanks for your insights, Ralph and others.. I will (and do) test, I was
> just looking for starting pointS.
> I have your book and I plan on at least trying the colorhead calibration
> test you describe.
>
> My testing of paper scale is somewhat objective since I don't have a
> reflection densitometer. But when I expose a sheet of, say, Berrger No 2
> under a step wedge and develop it in Ansco 130, I get a range of 13 - 14
> steps on a 21 step tablet between pure white and maximum black. Now, this is
> truly black when seen under a bright light. That gives me a scale of almost
> 2.1. Even if I back off one wedge from max black, I'm getting 1.95 as my
> scale. If I back off one wedge from paper white, then the scale from Z II -
> Z VIII becomes 1.80. I could keep coming in from the extremes to reach a
> scale that relates to published grades, but I then wouldn't know what that
> meant in terms of brightest white or blackest black. I get a scale for
> Fortezzo 3 (the hardest paper I use) in the same developer at 1.7.
>
> I know there's a thousand ways to screw up subjective testing, but I've done
> this repeatedly, and even though I'm inconsistent with the institutional
> knowledge, at least I'm consistent in my own lab. I also develop my negative
> to an average gradient of 0.62 to get me within range of the
> papers/developers I use.. and it usually works in my favor.
>
> None of this means I won't learn something different tomorrow and change
> everything @!
>
> Thanks again.
>
> J.R. Stewart
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "DarkroomMagic" <info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: "PureSilverNew" <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, December 24, 2004 8:44 AM
> Subject: [pure-silver] Re: VC printing equipment Was: Replacement
> forBromofort paper;
>
>
>> If I read between the lines correctly, you are somewhat hesitant to test.
>> I
>> suggest to overcome this hesitation. It is my experience that these tests
>> take less time then people expect and contain the opportunity to learn and
>> turn trial-and-error into experience and knowledge. Nevertheless, here is
>> my
>> opinion about some of your questions.
>>
>>> 1. I use a Thomas Safelight now and with fixed grade papers I don't have
>>> to
>>> worry about fog... should I worry about VC papers under a Thomas?
>>
>> The Thomas Safelight has adjustable baffles, changing the light output
>> dramatically. No safelight is really safe and all need to be tested. The
>> result of the test is not, if it is safe or not, it will give you a time
>> for
>> which it is safe enough. Test! Would you like a copy of the test
>> procedure?
>>
>>> 2. I know I can test, but can anyone give me a hint on which filtration
>>> will
>>> best match what I have today in my cold lite lamp? Is that 0Y/0M?
>>
>> No filtration will be close to a grade 2, but a test will reveal of paper
>> grades possible with this head. Many paper manufacturers give starting
>> points for their papers. If you don't want to test, start with 30Y/30M and
>> dial in more yellow to go softer and more magenta to go harder. The
>> benefit
>> of the test is that you can maintain highlight consistency when changing
>> paper contrast. Would you like a copy of the test procedure?
>>
>>> 3. Are VC papers as sensitive to different developers as fixed graded
>>> papers? I use Ansco 130 (softest), Ansco 120 (normal), and Beers for
>>> added
>>> hardness. Again, I know I can calibrate my new Dichro for each
>>> paper:developer combination, but should I expect to need to?
>>
>> I don't know the answer to this, because I only use one paper developer
>> (Dektol). I am about to try Neutol soon, because Dektol is increasingly
>> difficult to get over here in Europe. Changing contrast with a color head
>> is
>> easy enough. I see little need for multiple developers.
>>
>>> 4. Can anyone recommend an especially long scale VC FB paper? I prefer
>>> neutral tone. I typically print to a scale close to 1.8-2.0 today.
>>
>> Not sure what this means. Normal paper contrast is around 1.05. A grade 0
>> is
>> around 1.55!
>>
>> Good luck with your color head. I think they are great for VC printing.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Regards
>>
>>
>>
>> Ralph W. Lambrecht
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 12/24/04 1:39 PM, "J.R. Stewart" <jrstewart@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>> Well, after a round of several prints that I had to fight to get to the
>>> right contrast using my cold lite head and fixed grade paper and
>>> adjusting
>>> developer and development time, I decided to try VC. In January, I'll
>>> take
>>> ownership of a Super Chromega Dichro II head to put on my D2. It cost me
>>> about the same as converting my non-VC lamp to a V54 lamp.
>>>
>>> Some things I should have thought about before:
>>>
>>> 1. I use a Thomas Safelight now and with fixed grade papers I don't have
>>> to
>>> worry about fog... should I worry about VC papers under a Thomas?
>>>
>>> 2. I know I can test, but can anyone give me a hint on which filtration
>>> will
>>> best match what I have today in my cold lite lamp? Is that 0Y/0M?
>>>
>>> 3. Are VC papers as sensitive to different developers as fixed graded
>>> papers? I use Ansco 130 (softest), Ansco 120 (normal), and Beers for
>>> added
>>> hardness. Again, I know I can calibrate my new Dichro for each
>>> paper:developer combination, but should I expect to need to?
>>>
>>> 4. Can anyone recommend an especially long scale VC FB paper? I prefer
>>> neutral tone. I typically print to a scale close to 1.8-2.0 today.
>>>
>>> Thanks for any advice!
>>>
>>> Happy holidays, everyone.
>>>
>>> J.R. Stewart / Leesburg VA
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "J. Stewart" <jrstewart@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> To: <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>> Sent: Saturday, September 18, 2004 9:23 AM
>>> Subject: VC printing equipment Was: Replacement for Bromofort paper;
>>>
>>>
>>>> I've been wondering lately whether I ought to go the route of converting
>>>> to
>>>> variable contrast. I used VC years ago, using filters (not a color
>>>> head).
>>>> I'm a bit reluctant to return.. the quality in those days wasn't near
>>>> the
>>>> quality of graded papers. Has that changed in the last 10 years or so?
>>>> ....
>>>> I know a lot of really good photographers are using VC. Plus, I think
>>>> I'd
>>>> like the ability to do split grade printing, and I sometimes like softer
>>>> papers than anyone can get in a graded form.
>>>>
>>>> I have a 4x5 D2 with cold lite head as my main enlarger.. standard light
>>>> source (i.e., not the VC). Would it be a major investment to equip
>>>> myself
>>>> with the gear to use VC?
>>>>
>>>> Jim
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: <XRadar@xxxxxxx>
>>>> To: <pure-silver@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>>>> Sent: Saturday, September 18, 2004 8:04 AM
>>>> Subject: [pure-silver] Re: Replacement for Bromofort paper
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> In a message dated 9/17/04 10:09:12 PM Central Daylight Time,
>>>>> jrstewart@xxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
>>>>>> Can anyone recommend a close replacement for Bromofort graded fiber
>>>>>> base
>>>>>> paper?
>>>>>
>>>>> Have you tried Bergger graded paper? Not much choice for graded.
>>>>> Ilford
>>>>> Gallerie, Oriental Seagull and the Bergger for cold tone. Probably
>>>>> some
>>>> that I
>>>>> haven't seen. Guess I'm contributing to the decline as I'm using
>>>>> mostly
>>>> VC
>>>>> now. Just so much easier and easy to keep fresh supply. But still
>>>>> have
>>>>> a
>>>> lot of
>>>>> the old Seagull #1 in the freezer for the right image.
>>>>> Chuck
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
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