I just purchased a Zone VI VC Cold Light and I was wondering if anyone has any tips about how find the setting for different grades. I'm using Ilford VC fiber. I made a test print on Ilford Gallery #2 and I'm now in the process of trying to visually match the two papers contrast. Does anyone have any "basic" settings I can use to start? Thanks for any info. Regards, Tom

-- Tom Kittel (tom2150@aol.com), January 18, 2001

Answers

Get a step tablet- makes the process trivial.

-- Conrad Hoffman (choffman@rpa.net), January 18, 2001.

A step tablet does make it easy. The grades can be determined by how many steps are visible. There was an article on this by David Vestal in one of the older D&CCT special issues.

Personally, I find that split filter printing with green only and blue only works really well. Grades are not very relevant with VC paper. You can get lots of information on exposure and contrast variations with two test strips. I find it extremely valuable to be able to bracket contrast with a test strip.

-- Jim Snyder (jim.snyder@uaa.alaska.edu), January 19, 2001.

When I had my Zone VI VC head, I ultimately abandoned trying to figure out grades. It just didn't give me any benefits.

What I did, was start at 50/50 for a print, then added/subtracted the green & blue light as I felt appropriate. Split printing using separate blue & green exposures provides the same results.

-- Charlie Strack (charlie_strack@sti.com), January 19, 2001.

Thank you, gentlemen, for the help- I appreciate it!!!

-- Tom Kittel (tom2150@aol.com), January 21, 2001.

Try Anchells book The Variable Contrast Printing Manual. It has instructions on finding out grades by using a step tablet. He also recommends Stouffer step tablets, which are cheaper and worked very well for me. Finding out grades does give some objective calibration of printing contrast, which in turn gives a point of reference for calibrating film processing. For example, calibrating processing for grade 2 or grade 3 paper will give slightly different results, and you will ultimately have to decide which you like best.

-- Raja A. Adal (d60w0635@ip.media.kyoto-u.ac.jp), January 22, 2001.

I recommend the Steve Anchell book as well. I found my copy through bookfinders.com A great site for new and used books.

-- Stephen Mitchell (mitmad@telus.net), February 16, 2001.