BTZS, matching film development to paper ES

[Andrew O'Neill]

Why err at all?

Because ideally you want your negative to "fit" on your choice of paper's grade 2 even if it's a VC paper.

[AF-ULF]

Andrew, that is my point. If you are fitting your negative to print on your choice of paper's grade two, even if it's a VC paper, then that is not erring--it is using the system as designed.

The second issue then is what constitutes grade two. As Davis points out in his book, there is no standard definition. He suggests an ES of 1.0 to 1.1 (midpoint 1.05) as grade two, regardless of the paper being used. With VC paper, you can adjust the contrast, so thereby designating that range as grade two. Determining your paper's ES, or setting it with filters to a specific ES, and exposing and developing the negative to match it is not erring.

[jeroldharter]

Perhaps "err" was not the best choice of words. What I meant was that I could choose among multiple ES's of the VC paper's ES range for film matching; so is there an advantage for choosing a lower ES or a higher ES?

Thanks to Fred Newman at the View Camera Store for speaking with me on the phone. I appreciate the help.

[ic-racer]

If you VC head works you should be able to use a single development time for almost any representational image.

[jeroldharter]

I am going to retest my film this week (perhaps using a new light meter) and match to a paper ES of 1.2 to account for the inherently low contrast of my 8x10 light source. I will retain the ES of 1.05 with 4x5 TMY2 for 5x5 printed on a different (Beseler 45s) light source.

Thanks also to Fred Newman for taking time to talk to me about these things.

[frednewman]

Hi Jerold

It was great talking to you. Any help you need just call me.

Fred Newman