Hints for exposing tri-x 120 negative for VDB

I will be getting my VDB kit from B&S in a few days, per the great advice on this forum.

In the mean time, I want to expose a few rolls for my first tries at VDB. My subject will be mostly desert southwest landscapes. (I hope this will suit VDB)

Assuming Tri-x in 120 format, in d76, what is the advice for negative exposure and development? I don't have access to densiometer or step tablet right now if that matters.

Somewhere I think I read that a good starting point is to expose normally, or maybe slightly underexpose, then develop at twice normal time, with the objective of a contrasty negative. Is this right? Or, what should I do?

I plan on contact printing six or more 6x7cm negatives per print since I have no enlarged negative.

Thanks in advance.
Steve.

As is the the case with so many other things in photography,(what camera, what lens, what developer, etc.) a great deal depends on what you are going to like as an end result.
In my case, I find that developing Tri-X at 50% over the "normal" time works for the VDB's that I have done. I have also had some success with normal development on particularly contasty subjects.
Ria

Ria said:

As is the the case with so many other things in photography,(what camera, what lens, what developer, etc.) a great deal depends on what you are going to like as an end result.
In my case, I find that developing Tri-X at 50% over the "normal" time works for the VDB's that I have done. I have also had some success with normal development on particularly contasty subjects.
Ria

Click to expand...

Ria,

Camera=rb67
Lens=65mm C
Film=Tri-x EI 320
Dev=d76 at 1.5x dev time as you indicate.

I just wanted an idea of how to start. IOW, I wanted to come back with fairly printable VDB appropriate negatives. Of course, I will have to adjust as I see how they print.

Thanks for your help and have a great day!
Steve.

Steve, Vandyke needs a very high contrast negative. If I can speak with numbers; you need a CI value around 0.9 in order to make nice Vandykes.

Something like 18 minutes in 1:1 D76 at 20C/68F will give you that much contrast. If that's too long then try 12 minutes in stock D76 (again 20C/68F). (Agitation -> standard Kodak small-tank processing: 2 inversions in 5 seconds, every 30 seconds...)

Regards,
Loris.