Variable Contrast Light Head or VC Paper ?

[Richard Rees]

I have a Zone vi variable contrast light head on a Beseler 4x5, I can not get a good print from it, prints seem "muddy" for lack of better terms. I have tried difference negs, diff developers, the results bacisly the same. With same neg I can get a good print on my other enlarger which just has a cold light and using graded paper. Is it the Light head the VC paper or just me. Any help or suggestions, Thanks Richard

[Sevo]

Well, first of all: You do own and use a VC safe darkroom light, right?

Ages ago, there were quite distinct differences in colour response between the Kodak and Ilford VC papers - Ilford filter kits and heads were close to useless on Kodak. I don't know how your head acts on current paper - it might be considerably wrong. Or the mixing box or condenser could be set up the wrong way. Or you need a different developer.

The cheapest way to find out, without spending money on a filter kit, would be to do a few test prints on graded paper - if the enlarger is ok, these will be fine, and you have a head/paper mismatch or a issue with your paper. To exclude the latter, try with sheet filters, on both enlargers.

Sevo

[Keith Pitman]

What settings are you using for each of the different grades?

[Mark Sawyer]

I'd consider changing the VC filters in the enlarger head. Those filters don't last forever...

[Jon Shiu]

I suggest a fitting the condenser head, if you have one for your enlarger. Gives more sparkle to the highlights, at least with the Ilford MGIV or Warmtone papers.

Jon

[Gem Singer]

Richard,

Your darkroom safelight might be causing the problem.

Try turning the safelight off and printing in total darkness.

Set the hard, soft, and brightness controls of your VC cold light to max. Make a test strip. Then a test print.

If the print still shows signs of fogging, your VC paper is fogged or there is a light leak in your darkroom.

[John Bowen]

Next time you are in the darkroom, tear a sheet of VC paper in half. Put 1 half directly in the fix and put the other half (unexposed) into your normal developer, stop and fix. Once finished turn on the lights and compare the two sheets. I'll bet your VC paper is fogged.

Now add some 2% solution of Benzetriozole to your developer (perhaps 30ml/liter) and repeat the test. If the fog vanishes start printing. If the fog persists, add another 30ml of 2% BZ and repeat until the fog clears. Make notes.

[photographs42]

Is this the Head with one Blue and one green light tube? If so, are both tubes working? Also, how are they controlled?
Jerome

[Richard Rees]

I have a Thomas Duplex super safelite, with the doors shut all the way. Don't think the paper is fogged, has done this from several boxes/ sizes of paper. Have tried all diff setting on controller. Thanks, will recheck, paper and safelite. Richard

[David E. Rose]

I have the same head. It has always had the issue that one tube has much more output than the other, making the contrast settings on the controller inaccurate. Try split printing with only one tube turned on at a time, controlling contrast via length of exposure with each tube.