Any suggestions for flashing Variable Contrast R/C paper...I have not had much luck...actually consistancy...my stash of flashed paper will work great oneday and poorly the next. Do you flash with the softest filter setting? Do you flash the paper so it is just short of showing tone? How about flashing paper you are going to sepia tone? Do you want a slight tone to everything on the paper? Any information on this little discussed subject is welcome.

-- Jim (p645n@hotmail.com), March 29, 2001

Answers

Flashing to just at or just above the exposure threshhold works best, if at all. As I understand it, VC paper has two emulsions - one higher contrast and one lower. So I suppose the number of the filter you flash with will determine which emulsion is most affected. This might affect how the final image turns out. I don't flash to control contrast very often, since that's what the VC filters are for. My few experiments with flashing have produced kind of muddy whites, but then the negative probably didn't need flashing to start with.

-- Keith Nichols (knichols@iopener.net), March 30, 2001.

I would think at the very least, the filter would matter between the No. 4 and above versus below No. 4. Many VC papers are supposed to have a constant speed when exposed through filters 0 to 4 and the speed drops to half for filters above 4. That difference in speed would obviously make a difference to the flash exposure. To answer your other questions, normally you would flash to just short of showing a tone. Subsequent sepia toning etc isn't an issue since flashing basically alters the tonalities i.e., makes the toe of the paper longer. Could there be other reasons you're getting inconsistent results? Process variation? It sounds like you flashed a heap of paper at one point in time and are using it later. Aging problems? Inconsistent safelighting issues? Good luck, DJ.

-- N Dhananjay (ndhanu@umich.edu), March 30, 2001.

Humm...aging problems...now we might be on to something. I flash about 20 sheets to last several sessions. It might get mixed in with flashed paper from previous sessions (same brand & emulsion batch). processing should not mater much as it is VC paper. Safelight is good (checked it again as soon as N Dhananjay suggested that...thanks!)I believe that I should flash at the softest filter setting so I always use that. Digital timer. Voltage regulation. Same chemicals mixed with distilled water. I believe that I should flash to just below tonality for prints all prints except those I will process in Kodak's sepia...those get flashed to tonality as I want something for the toner to bite into. No I think you hit it on the head...aging problems, the flashed paper in my stash may have sat for 1 minute or 1 week... Thanks...jim

-- Jim (p645n@hotmail.com), March 30, 2001.

Jim, Flashing is a quite interesting tool once it's used with some care and a close look to each case specifically. It can - and most times, it should - be used on small areas of the print and with varying intensities also. So it sounds quite strange to have a lot of paper fogged in advance. Actually, never heard about it! Good flashing!

Cesar B.

-- Cesar Barreto (cesarb@infolink.com.br), March 30, 2001.

There are a number of ways and reasons to flash paper. I have found that with the negative in the carrier, let's say your printing time is 8 sec, take some translum and put it under the lens. Set your timer to 1 second and expose. This will give a bit of detail in the highlights but will lower your contrast by about a 1/2 of a grade. Works well and is very simple. Experimentation is good to get the feel of it. Cheers

-- Scott Walton (f64sw@hotmail.com), April 03, 2001.