Best book to teach vc printing with a zone vi head

I don't know if it is the best one, but a very good book is "The

Variable Contrast Printing Manual", Steve Anchell, Focal Press, 1997.

How about reading The Elements of Black-and-White Printing by Carson

Graves(Focal Press) ? In the chapter 6, you will find some hints of

Split Filter Exposure on VC paper.

The current edition of Calumet's special catalog (the Photographic

Arts Library), lists several books on this topic, including one

entitled: "Gradient Light: The Art and Craft of Using Variable-

Contrast Paper," by Eddie Ephraums. They also have the Steve Anchell

book that Alan mentioned above.

I have the Gradient Light book and did not find it worth it. The

author shows many examples of split grade printing and toning without

a good discription of how he got there. It seems to be based on

materials only available in the UK with no US equivlient. ( I don't

know where you are). If you don't have "The Print" from the A. Adams

series I would pick one up, buy lots of paper a set of filters and

play, it's not something that can be absorbed from a book. Look at a

lot of prints in a gallery (not in a book) and experiment until you

can match.If your local newspaper still does B&W call and ask if you

can watch the process (not a source of fine prints but at least a

foot in the door).

Like learning to drive a car, printing must be done not read about.

I have the anchell book, i did not find it as a valuable resource. I

should have been called printing for dummies, its quite basic and

overly general. I was looking for an authoritative text on the topic.

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But thanks to everyone for the suggestions.