Paper grades, Graded and VC.

[MMfoto]

Does the change in contrast between grades occur similarly for both Graded and VC papers? For instance going from grade 2 to grade 3 Fortezo, and then from a #2 to a #3 filter for Polywarmtone. Is the tonal arrangement from top to bottom affected in the same way?

What I'm getting at is that I've wondered if the entire curve changes as much with VC paper when chaging filter grades as it does when going from one graded paper to another grade.

 

[JLP]

I'm sure you will get some answers from APUGers with more experience than me but my answer is: Depends.
In theory a grade 2 should print as VC paper exposed with a grade 2 filter but,
it depends a lot on how your negative looks and how it was developed. If you develope in a solvent developer such as D76 or Xtol it should be close. If you on the other hand use a staining developer such as PMK or any of the Pyrocat variations it will be harder to increase contrast by changin filters to a higher number, it will increase contrast but not at the same level as a graded paper.


jan

 

[Ole]

Also, many VC papers have a "bump" in the HD curve which many graded papers do not.

 

[dancqu]

What I'm getting at is that I've wondered if the entire
curve changes as much with VC paper when changing
filter grades as it does when going from one graded
paper to another grade.

They do and they don't. Quoting Phil Davis in his review
of Three Forte Papers: "... the only real difference in image
contrast and gradation occurs in the dark tones ..." That is
in regard to one of the Forte VC papers. Also, "This is a
characteristic... in most , if not all, ..." VC papers.

That same-contrast-characteristic seems to be
confined to the first few low contrast filters and is
confined to the light to mid density areas of the print.
Check Ilford's and other's PDFs, VC and Graded.

Just from the curves one might wonder how VC
paper ever caught on. As a late fifties financialy
strapped student I bought one big box of Kodak
Polycontrast and a set of their filters. Better I
thought than worry if my negative and paper
were a perfect match. Dan