Hi,
I have noticed that different kinds of fixers affect the emulsion and therefore how prints are toned.
My experience on RC paper has shown that non hardening fixers tone better but leave the emulsion soft.
And hardening fixers help toughen the emulsion, but leave the tone looking dull, flat, and greyish.
My question is - is it beneficial to fix a print first without a hardener, tone it, and then fix it again with a hardener? Or would one just limit themselves to not hardening whatsoever?
I feel like I want to use a hardener for protection, but can't justify it if it ruins the tone. Found this to be the case with sepia and selenium.
I prefer using RC for now mainly due to price constraints and ease of use.
Using Ilford Rapid Fixer, standard Kodak Fixer, Kodak Sepia kit and Bergger Selenium.
Thanks