VC paper with two bath development?

[SuzanneR]

Ever since returning to the darkrom after an eighteen or so year absence, I have been printing on VC papers. Way back when, I printed only on graded papers, and frequently printed using two developers. (hard and soft). I got great results, and it tweaked the contrast beautifully. My question is, will VC papers respond to two bath development in the same way as a graded paper? Or would, say, split filter printing be a better way to go? I have several snow pictures I'd like to print, and I figure this'll be a chance to try out some new techniques.

I'll probably try both techniques, but I figured someone here might have a little insight.

Thanks

 

[jim appleyard]

I don't know about better, but split filtering sure is easier and you have one less dev to mix and dispose of. Plus, filtering is constant. Devs will lose potency as they age.

 

[Bob Carnie]

Hi Suzanne

I would try split filter method for VC papers.
I am not sure what the benifit of having two developers along side split filters.
When I use split developers for graded paper , I am only doing this to get a softer 3 or a harder 2.
With split filtering you can achieve any grade between 0 and 5. good luck and have fun.

 

[SuzanneR]

Thanks for the quick response. I probably wouldn't use the split filter technique with the two bath development, (one or the other would probably be fine) but I just wasn't clear about the benefits (if any) of the two bath development with VC papers. It's not addressed in any books I have, so I may just give it a try to see what happens!

 

[Bob Carnie]

Hi Suzanne

I do not think there are any benifits using a two bath dev with VC papers.
Although Jorge had a method of pre bleaching before the development stage that may be of use with VC papers, as well as pre -flashing the paper.