Here's the deal with V54: It's a blue-green bulb. I happen to have a big high-power custom version for one of my 8x10 enlargers. But the V54 is most efficient if
you learn to split print with actual deep blue vs deep green filters. Of course, you can use it completely unfiltered too. Most of the time I try to print directly onto
VC paper, then merely tweak with a colored glass filter over the lens if needed. Graded papers obviously see only blue. But yellow passes some green while attenuating some blue, while magenta passes some blue while attenuating some of the green, depending on the strength of your filter of course.
Thanks, but that doesn't answer my question. The V54 is supposed to be right for VC papers. My experience so far (limited to be sure) is that it doesn't, really , quite do it. Is that a common experience, or did I get a bad tube? I appreciate your experienced advice a lot--thanks.
OK sorry to bother everyone. After drying the step wedge tests, and a look on a light table, I find the "0" filter produced a Exposure scale of 13 "half" stops, and the "2" filter a scale of 10 "half" stops. Wedge steps were 0.15 each. So-looks like it is not as far off as I initially thought. I can work with that. Thanks everyone.
My understanding (a positive way of saying no firsthand experience) is that the v54 bulb should give you a full contrast range without the cc30y rosco. This Ilford document recommends use of a cc40y filter with the older W45 bulb, but expect contrast to "bunch up" at the higher end.
However, in a recent test of the Zone VI (non VC) head, and a cc30y rosco filter, I got what I considered to be a fairly even distribution of contrast across the 1 to 5 range. I did not test the exposure range with each filter.
A CC-yellow is a minus blue, which would curtail the higher contrast range. A V54 does not require and you should not use a CC. There is a little flat spot in the #4 or #3.5 spot of the range, but no big deal. With a very strong blue filter, one can go beyond what the contrast filters will give you, maybe a half grade. It's so blue that I can barely see it and dodging is difficult.
Thanks--Interesting bit of useful info. Made a real print from a "real" negative (not a step wedge) today. Used # 2 MG filter, no extra yellow. Actually looks pretty good, so will proceed with other printing. Thanks for the help.
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