I'm interested in member input regarding the following.
I'm about to do a round of calibrations for 4x5 HP5. Usually, I purchase 25 sheets of Gallerie 8x10 Grade 3 FB paper on which to base these film calibrations. I don’t print on this paper, I merely use it for testing. Here’s my logic:
> I use a VC FB paper for printing. If I were to use this paper for testing, the question becomes, at what filter setting do I conduct my testing? (I use a color head for my VC printing.) What filtering gives me a middle ground contrast? In this regard, Gallerie 3 gives me a nice, consistent paper on which to test.
> I’ve heard that Gallerie 3 is actually between a typical grade 2 and grade 3 paper. So, it’s a little more snappy than a typical grade 2. Since I like a print that’s kind of snappy, I figure I should do my testing on such a paper.
> I suspect that Ansel Adams didn’t expect to be printing a negative for all time on the same paper that he used for calibrating that negative. Papers change.
When I print, I print to taste on VC paper, which will be Ilford VC Warmtone FB.
QUESTION: So, before I start this round of calibrations, does this sound like a reasonable approach, to test on a different paper than that used for printing? Would you change the contrast grade of the testing paper? What suggestions would you offer?
[As background, after testing the ASA for film, (usually half of published ASA), I'll develop a sheet of film at Zone 0. (Pretty much filmbase + fog.) I'll use this sheet to determine the minimum exposure required to achieve maximum black on my testing paper. (Gallerie 3 FB.) Next, I determine the development that gets me a nice Zone 8 and use this as my N development. (I pivot my highlights on Zone 8, vs. Zone 7.) Then, I use the testing paper to create a step tablet and evaluate my N development. I may want to increase or decrease it a little, depending on the results. Once the N development is determined, it's easy enough use a densitometer to determine the other developments, N+1, N-1, etc.]
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