Response to Printing negatives developed in PMK on variable contrast paper

From reading your post I take it that you feel that lowering the contrast on highlights is a bad thing. Actually it is one of the strengths of pyro developers. It is still possible to make very contrasty prints with this developer but if you have alot of slight changes in ajoining highlight areas, lowering the contrast of these areas will make these changes feel more real. Many photographers will burn down highlights on variable contrast paper with a 0 or 1 filter, it has much the same effect as flashing on graded paper, the stain from the pyro negative has much the same effect. If you feel that your negatives in general are of too low in contrast then by all means increase the development time. I personally cut the ISO of the film I'm using in half on roll films, with the frequent agitation needed on roll film I think some speed is lost. I would suggest keeping with the variable contrast paper, it should be an advantage.

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