jeroldharter
16-Oct-2011, 18:10
I have an Aristo vCL 8100 light source which I use on a Beseler 8x10 conversion. I use TMY2 developed in Xtol which I tested via BTZS to get my film speeds and development times based on a standard grade 2 paper ES. I use Kentmere FP VC FB paper which has worked well for me up until now on this setup as well as for my 4x5 setup for which I use a Beseler Dichro 45S light source.
Now I am having problems on the 8x10 setup. I messed up some negatives after forgetting to dilute the Xtol 1:1, so the are quite contrasty compared to what I am used to. I figured I might have to flash the paper or take other measures to reduce the contrast to printable levels. However I found myself printing them at Grade 4 on the VCL 8100.
That prompted me to do a BTZS paper test which revealed the problem. My real contrast range is more like Grade 0-3, with the VCL setting of "3" corresponding to a paper grade 1.5!
I use the light source in the "normal" mode rather than the split filter mode. In the normal mode, even the grade 5 light looks mostly green whereas in the split grade "blue" mode the light is a deep blue/purple. I did not think to do a paper test of the blue light, of course. But even if that works in increasing contrast I don't want to have to mess around that much.
Any ideas as to what I should do? Also, I don't know why this changed on me. The bulbs each seem to be working, the paper and chemistry are fresh, etc.
Now I am having problems on the 8x10 setup. I messed up some negatives after forgetting to dilute the Xtol 1:1, so the are quite contrasty compared to what I am used to. I figured I might have to flash the paper or take other measures to reduce the contrast to printable levels. However I found myself printing them at Grade 4 on the VCL 8100.
That prompted me to do a BTZS paper test which revealed the problem. My real contrast range is more like Grade 0-3, with the VCL setting of "3" corresponding to a paper grade 1.5!
I use the light source in the "normal" mode rather than the split filter mode. In the normal mode, even the grade 5 light looks mostly green whereas in the split grade "blue" mode the light is a deep blue/purple. I did not think to do a paper test of the blue light, of course. But even if that works in increasing contrast I don't want to have to mess around that much.
Any ideas as to what I should do? Also, I don't know why this changed on me. The bulbs each seem to be working, the paper and chemistry are fresh, etc.