Getting back into printing: paper question

[Dave Miller]

Ralph, it is as Jim has said, perfectly possible to modify local contrast of graded paper by the judicious use of hard and soft working developers, at, if necessary different temperatures. Les’ demonstration of this technique during his workshop is a revelation that every printer should experience. However whether one would want to go to that level of effort when good quality VC paper is available is an individual decision.

 

[dancqu]

Split-Grade Printing only works with VC papers.

You are talking about local contrast control. With
Graded papers there are a few methods. Water bath,
pre-exposure, and the Selective Latent Image Manipulation
Technique are three. The last, SLIMT, new to the OP.

I'm of the opinion that the popularity of split-grade
filtration with VC papers is due to the inability of VC
papers to display a full specturm of grades. IIRC the
usual filters used are 00 and 5. That's squeezing
for all it's worth. Dan

 

[RalphLambrecht]

You are talking about local contrast control. With
Graded papers there are a few methods. Water bath,
pre-exposure, and the Selective Latent Image Manipulation
Technique are three. The last, SLIMT, new to the OP.

I'm of the opinion that the popularity of split-grade
filtration with VC papers is due to the inability of VC
papers to display a full specturm of grades. IIRC the
usual filters used are 00 and 5. That's squeezing
for all it's worth. Dan

Don't mix filter numbers with grades, it's a mess. All VC papers I know, can easily do ISO 0-5, even with color heads. With contrast filters they can do a bit more, but that is at the extremes and mostly meaningless. A negative that needs grade 00 (there is no such thing BTW) belongs in the bin not in the enlarger.

 

[lauraleejones]

What about pricing our "old" prints that are made on paper that has been discontinued? Are the prints more valuable from a collectors point of view? LLJ

 

[Sparky]

What about pricing our "old" prints that are made on paper that has been discontinued? Are the prints more valuable from a collectors point of view? LLJ

I don't really think collector's have any real awareness of paper brands, etc... fiber base and weight might be as about as far as they go.

 

[Sparky]

While reading this thread the thought occurred to me... isn't the whole zone system predicated on the idea of fitting the tonal range to a standard grade 2 or 3 paper? It seems very odd that all this zone system business has taken off like wildfire in recent years - when the VC papers have become the norm...

 

[RalphLambrecht]

It is correct that variable contrast papers can take over much of the functionality of the Zone System. However, you still want the negative to fit a medium gradation in order to have the flexibility towards soft and hard gradation, which allows for optimizing the pint. Otherwise, variable contrast paper is just used to salvage a mediocre negative. We are better off using it for creative manipulation.

 

[dancqu]

...when the VC papers have become the norm...

And more the norm are less well lighted darkrooms.
So much the norm in fact that I'm sure many who do
work in darkrooms and/or have visited same have never
seen how well lighted a darkroom can be.

I consider Graded paper's tolerance of high levels of
darkroom light an unexploited asset. I mention the
subject now and then but neither the industry or
individuals seem aquainted with the fact. Dan

 

[Rich Ullsmith]

I have found, in the process of snapping up all manner of used or opened boxes of paper (from folks who no longer have a need for it), that graded papers seem to withstand aging much better. Of course, I cannot account for how the papers have been stored, but rarely is the older graded paper fogged. Almost always the older VC paper is fogged.

 

[dancqu]

I have found, in the process of snapping up all manner of
used or opened boxes of paper ... that graded papers seem
to withstand aging much better. ... I cannot account for how
the papers have been stored, but rarely is the older graded
paper fogged. Almost always the older VC paper is fogged.

I wonder if any rigorous studies have been made comparing
the aging of Graded vs VC papers. Perhaps another matter
where in the virtues of Graded vs VC papers has not been
exploited. I've mentioned the the improved darkroom
lighting allowed by Graded paper's blue only
sensitive emulsion. Dan