I'm trying to isolate the cause for anemic density in high values on negatives.
Recent testing with a controlled target in controlled continuous lighting astonished me by producing a low Zone VIII density with my normal development where a Zone X was expected. Low zones were correctly placed and showed expected development, indicating that my exposure was on target, thus that my meter was fine, unless some wild non-linearity has infected it, which was not apparent from the way I set up the target and lighting.
This came about during what has unfortunately become an extended saga of getting an LED head made and working out kinks. Therefore, I also checked the contrast rendering from the RGB LED panel with my new 4x5 21-step Stouffer transmission tablet. If my notes on its use, from a thread here last Spring, are correct, I should disregard the darkest not-yet-black step and the lightest not-yet-white step, count the number of steps between them (ignoring, of course, one of the two Step 11s, which are identical), and multiply by 15 to get a number corresponding to contrast grade standards. I adjusted the GB balance to get a scant 7 steps, thus something around 100 (Grade 2) for the unfiltered light. My paper was fresh.
Therefore, I am turning to my Metol (I mix D23), which I am near finishing up before ordering more, wondering if it could have weakened. That's the question I'm asking, prior to running out, prior to ordering more. I probably bought it 18 months ago; I should have dated the container. It's stored in a brown glass jar with a silicate packet. It's the same batch I have used for reliable, consistent, good density previously. I didn't think it was in danger of losing activity, but if that's the problem, fine. I am otherwise stumped on this problem -- just when I thought I finally had the variables under control. Grrrr!
Any knowledgeable/experienced thoughts? Yes, I will be ordering more but don't want to throw away what I have if some other factor may be at work.
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