Clarification about Moersch toners

Hi everyone,

I have a bunch of prints that have never received any toning treatment. I have been browsing Tim Rudman's book on toning this last week and I have to say, I got my arse handed back to me. It's a process that requires being even more methodical (for the beginner).

Both Rudman and Moersch speak of bleaching in the process however, the shop I bought the toners from told me that the bleach was already in the mix and that it was not required.

So I set about toning.

It's my fault that I never kept proper notes on the papers that I used and which developers, but it was all a mixture of:

The toners I bought:

Moersch MT4 Siena
Moersch MT5 Sepia
Moersch Carbon toner

Ilford Warmtone RC
Ilford Warmtone FB
Agfa MCC 118 Classic Fiber
Ilford Art 300

The developers used were Harman Warmtone Developer and Rollei RPN.

I must say I had some success with the Siena toner and the carbon toner. The sepia toner is very very slight.

The process I used:

I used a mixture of dry prints from yesterday and a few fresh (wet) prints from today.

1. soak prints in water
2. prepare toners (carbon 1:30, Sepia 1:20, Siena 1:20)
3: develop print in toner for 2-3 minutes or until desired effect when compared with wet non-toned print
4. transfer print into water bath for a minute
5. transfer print to archive washer for another 45 minutes

Problems I faced:

1. on some prints, the whites are stained and dirty
2. on some prints there is no visible effect, especially sepia
3. some prints are horribly mottled (I know, read more Rudman)

I did get 3-4 toned prints that made me happy and I have something to smile about. The whole exercise was a big lesson in how far I have to go, how dedicated, practiced, skilled and methodical one has to be in order to get a good or near perfect looking print both in terms of image and final overall finish quality. I have a lot more respect for many of you now.

Is there anyone out there using the same toners and is this how they are used? As I mentioned before, the Moersch site and Rudman's techniques seem to be pertaining to split toning with a separate bleach bath.

If anyone can link me to their toning process or has any pointers for me that would be great.

I use MT4 & MT5, they are both polysulfide toners.
You can use them straight or with bleach first..
If you have cold or neutral papers you need to bleach first then tone.
If you use chlorobromide paper you have the choice.

If you don't see the effect you should have bleached the print first.
If you have mottled prints they were not washed enough before.

Go to Moersch website. There is a lot of info over there.
Best,
G.

Wolfgang Moersch usually answers all customer questions.

Moersch Photochemie
Am Heideberg 48
50354 Hürth
Germany

Tel.: +49-2233-943137
Fax.: +49-2233-943138

EMail:
wolfgangmoersch-photochemie.de

Thanks guys. I'll do more reading and see what I can get from the Moersch site.