There is a thread, started just a few days ago, about a new VC head being designed by some folks. There is another thread, on APUG, also about an experimental design, plus a few more threads, describing issues and failures in using some green and blue LEDs to make a working head. I am only aware of one commercially available LED VC head, the relatively (for me) pricey, Heiland one.
What have I missed? Do you know of any commercially available, or experimental VC light sources?
Just to avoid confusion, I am not asking for an LED white lamp that I could use with filters. I am looking for a light source that mixes blue and green (or magenta and yellow) light by itself, like the venerable dichroic Ilford 500 Multigrade system, or similar, filter-based heads, like Ilford 400 and 600, or the Saunders/LPL VCCE.
And if anyone is looking for a feature spec, I'd be happy to provide a long list. The short one is:
- speed-matched, so a given esposure time that prints a midtone of ISO paper speed point of 0.60 above base, prints the same midtone at every contrast setting
- evenly spaced, and finely controlled contrast settings, ideally at no less than ISO-R steps of R10; ideally, this would be configurable to calibrate for different characteristics of various VC papers
- easy to use controller, that is simple, offers time-based exposure, focus, and burn, with a foot switch option, and, if possible, ability to use a 3rd party timer
- exposure must be made in one cycle, at the determined contrast, and not in two cycles, that is not a soft then hard exposure; however, an option of making split-grade exposures should be possible for those who use that method—ideally, both modes are selectable
- I only care that I can use it on my De Vere 504, but the head ought to be modular enough to work with different enlargers—Ilford 500H had been designed that way, perhaps that idea could be replicated
I realise that some of those points were raised here and there, and I apologise for any repetition. My only goal is to find out what is available, and to hopefully inspire someone to make this possible, if they can.
Bookmarks