I see many references to the proper Zone VIII density being 1.2. But as I'm taking my first critical look at negative densities this does not seem to be the proper number for my system. Perhaps somebody could "calibrate" my thinking if I'm wrong.
When I contact print my step wedge on the paper I'm using, without enlarger filtration, I get an exposure scale of 12 steps, or 4 stops (each step is 0.1 density). Of course I can expand or contract that range by adding filtration, but the assumed goal is negatives that print well without filtration.
So it seems to me that if I'm developing for a Zone VIII value of 1.2, then I'm putting Zone VIII at the limits of the paper. I'm reasoning that 1.2 should be the Zone X value, and Zone VIII should be something like 0.96. I think Ansel's paper must have had a longer exposure scale than mine.
Am I missing anything?
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