Pyrocat-MC w/ VC papers - what can I expect?

[aldevo]

I recently purchased a Pyrocat-MC (in glycol) kit from the photographer's formulary.

Most of my shots are taken in very contrasty light. I primarily print on VC papers (in particular, Forte Polygrade V VC FB and Polywarmtone VC FM) and I'm trying to find out what I should expect.

From what I've read, some staining developers (those that use Pyrogallol) produce a greenish/yellow stain which inibits the magenta/blue light to which VC emulsions are sensitive. Since that stain is proportinal to the local density, highlights tend to shoulder off with these developers.

I've read that staining developers using Pyrocatechin (e.g. Pyrocat-HD, Pyrocat-MC) produce a brownish stain that should inhibit magenta/blue light somewhat less.

Should I expect considerably less shouldering of highlights as a result with VC papers? Or will this developer only produce a full range of print tones with Graded papers?

Thanks

 

[nworth]

I've been using the regular Pyrocat-HD for some negatives lately. It prints very well on VC paper. I haven't noticed any filter change in comparison to D-76, but I wouldn't notice a half grade change or so from a relatively small sample.