NOS Type II

[Anscojohn]

My VC-head Type II has been assembled for several months now. It languished in boxes since purchase, brand new, about 15 years ago! I still have yet to do any printing. I am still plagued with physical problems (low back pain and arthritis) that enable me to say, "Tomorrow, for sure." I plan to begin printing up a whole new set of all of my favorite images going back about 40 years--printed with various enlargers, under many different printing situations. I surmize that printing known negatives will allow me to get the hang of the controls on the Zone VI easiest.

 

[tequilabong]

Great post, and what I wanted to ask, is what way do the users print with the head?
I"ve been trying to do the split filter treatment, as described in the manual..........First expose making a test strip only with the dark tube, find out best exposure, then expose, then, on same sheet, do a series of 2 second or so exposure with just the light tube on. sometimes it works, other times, very frustrating......

It also seems to take a while to get the tubes warmed up........

So users, what have you found to be the best way to print??

 

[Ed Pierce]

I recently wrote about calibrating mine on the lf site:

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=50148

Happy to provide more details to the curious

 

[tequilabong]

Hey, I'm very curious....That is why I started this group......Any details to share?

Thanks.

G.

 

[Anscojohn]

What settings should I use for graded paper; of which I have very much.

 

[tequilabong]

Hmm, let me check my manual, but I believe if you hit the focus switch switch on the controller, (which is not supposed to be used if you are using the knobs)......The light changes...it is neither the blue or the green bulb......I'm not sure what it is but it is brighter...

Gordo

 

[ROL]

I have a ZVI Type II, 5X7 head, wall mounted, with VC Control and MetroLux timer.

When I establish fine prints, I normally do several in a printing session (perhaps 10 or more depending on size). I "split-printed' on VC paper one time only with the ZVI. It took an incredibly long time to finish each print - the entire edition geometrically longer. I didn't feel the resulting prints were any better than printing with one contrast, or changing contrast for specific burns. While I might endorse split printing using this machine for single prints, it certainly didn't fit my particular work flow. I now print only graded (fiber) papers for normal sizes setting the controller at a 'safe' maximum of 'G' for soft and hard, '8' for brightness. For larger sizes (rolls), I use both graded and VC papers as available - but I print the VC as a single grade using the controller's hard-soft (blue-green) settings to determine ~grade, matched to previously established finished print contrast.

The Focus switch on the VC Controller (the 3 knobs are simply rheostats adjusting blue, green and overall lamp intensity) gives you full brightness of the blue light only, by which focus is most easily achieved.