Blue black shadows - MGIV FB Glossy - Gold toner

delphine · Oct 7, 2008

I would like some input to print on FB MG4 Glossy deep black shadows with a hint of blue whilst preserving the highlights white.

What is your experience and recommendations to achieve this with Gold toner ?

Best

Dee

Claire Senft · Oct 7, 2008

Your link seems to not be working.

delphine · Oct 7, 2008

Claire, they are not links. I was just highlighting the keywords of the OP.:rolleyes: Sorry if I confused matters.

Mike Crawford · Oct 7, 2008

Sounds like Kodak Selenium 1+20 for 3-5 minutes minutes may do what you are looking for. And a lot cheaper! I like the colour change it gives on MG4; bluish blacks and clean highlights.

Claire Senft · Oct 7, 2008

If you wish to use gold then perhaps the GAF231 may be a good choice.

David Lingham · Oct 7, 2008

MGIV does'nt change much in either gold or selenium. I agree with Mike, selenium will just about alter the appearance of MGIV. Gold seems to have no effect on it at all, and it's too expensive to waste trying!

nworth · Oct 7, 2008

I can't find an example of MGIV with selenium to look at right now, but selenium often has a slight warming effect, even though the tone doesn't change much. Try a print or two that way in any case. If you go with gold, Kodak GP-1 (gold protective solution) is a bit cheaper to mix up than the regular gold toners. I know it cools MGIV a bit, and it may be enough. My examples don't show any blue in the shadows, but the shadows are a very neutral, cold black. The developer can have a decided effect when you want subtle tone changes. You might look to a cold tone contact paper developer or one of the other developers expressly designed for cold tones (e.g. Ansco 103, Ansco 113, Defender 54-D, the Burki and Jenny cold tone formula, D-73, Muir's blue black paper developer, or any of a number of others).

Claire Senft · Oct 7, 2008

Nelson's Gold toner which can be replenished is much the least expensive gold toner on a per print basis. I did not mention it because I do not believe it will give the type of tones desired.

delphine · Oct 21, 2008

Thank you all for your feedback. Very useful. I'll keep on dabbing on the selenium and developer side rather than the gold toner.

Anscojohn · Oct 21, 2008

Try using a paper developer with a low bromide content; or add benzotriazole to the working solution; or do both. I use a high metol, low bromide home brew of Ansco 103 with one half the bromide, and 6 ml 2 % benzotriazole in the stock solution. Diluted normally at 1:2. I like a cold, black print color.

delphine · Oct 21, 2008

Thank you John. I'll keep note of your comment.

Adrian Twiss · Oct 21, 2008

The colour shift with gold toner is very subtle. I use Tetenal gold toner and got just a hint of blue after 15 minutes. I have never managed a shift to blue black with Selenium. KRST 1:9 for 5 minutes just gives me an increase in Dmax. May I suggest Moersch SE6 blue with about 10ml finisher blue added. You get the developer and finisher in a kit. Also Kodak Dektol diluted 1:1 is reputed to give the same colour as Edwal Ultrablack (a very cold tone developer, sadly not available in the UK). If you fancy a bit of DIY I have some formulae that may prove successful.

Stoo Batchelor · Oct 21, 2008

Hi Dee

You could try Peter Hogans Blu-Blak Paper Developer.

http://www.monochromephotography.com/products.htm

Or a P.M to Leon Taylor, who has mastered the art of turning your choice of paper cold.

Kindest regards

Stoo

delphine · Oct 22, 2008

Thanks Stoo.

I have started bleaching and redeveloping. I got some deep blue black but I have problems with the highlights warming up somehow.

Has anybody got any experience using the blu black quoted by Stoo?

Blue black shadows - MGIV FB Glossy - Gold toner

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