Any suggestions for toning b/w prints beyond selinium. I've used selinium sometimes and gotten no visible results. I'd like to use a tone to get richer tones in the shadow detail. I usually use Ilford Multigrade FB.

-- Anonymous, April 22, 1997

Answers

Ed, I have used selenium toner(Kodak Rapid) mixed from 1:10 to 1:20 with Ilford Multigrade FB, and the new FBIV, with good results. It is sure slower to show results than the Oriental that I just ran out of though. I just finished a batch of prints on that paper before sitting down to the computer, and it worked fine. Try keeping one copy of the same print you are toning in a tray of water by the toning bath for comparison. On other toners, Agfa Viradon for sepia effects can look good, with the effects varying a lot from straight toning with it(slight effect) to bleaching & toning. Try first selenium toning & then in the Viradon-unusual tones and some that work very well. You might also try toning with a 'frisket' coating on part of the image, toning in one type, and then taking the coating off, re coating the part that just toned, and now toning in another toner for split effects. It works & give a lot of control. Anyway, good luck to you.

-- Anonymous, April 22, 1997

Toning prints

I've read a little about toning prints with Amidol which should increase blacks dramatically but I don't know much more than that. Perhaps some of the readers might know more about it.

-- Anonymous, April 22, 1997

I'm partial to selenium.

Your results with MG are similar to what I get, although I think selnium produces a nice sheen with MG and MGIV at 5 min. (1:10). The predictability of no tonal change can be an advantage as well.

Both Brilliant and VCII tone beautifully at 5 min (1:10).

Polymax will darken up a bit at 5 min (1:10) and Elite darkens up substantially at 5 min (1:20).

Forte Polygrade and Bromoforte are very sensitive to toning - 1:30 min. at (1:10) before color shift to brown/sepia. -Doug

-- Anonymous, April 24, 1997

Are you using hardener?

It surprises me that you're not getting any visible results. If you're using hardener in the fix, don't. I use selinium with the same paper and get very good results but I don't use any hardener. Good Luck!

-- Anonymous, April 25, 1997

I use "Lipton" tea. keep it warm and it produce's great warm tone results. My mother gave me the idea after she said that they have been toning cloth in the stuff for century's.

-- Anonymous, November 02, 1998