Fomatone lith prints and long toning in Selenium. A killer!

[Robert Hall]

Glad I could help. I don't know where you are in your darkroom journey, but I find being overly careful is never a bad thing. I have see some of the most deplorable darkroom/lab practices from some of the most notable photographers and especially while you are learning it's really best to eliminate as many variables as you can.

Best of luck with your process and why don't you post some images when you can?

-Robert

 

[AndreiF]

Glad I could help. I don't know where you are in your darkroom journey, but I find being overly careful is never a bad thing. I have see some of the most deplorable darkroom/lab practices from some of the most notable photographers and especially while you are learning it's really best to eliminate as many variables as you can.

Best of luck with your process and why don't you post some images when you can?

-Robert

Thank you. Yes, I prefer to be covered and not regreted later I have some darkroom experience but I am new to toning. I tried before just the (Japaneses) tea toning. But since some time I started working with lith (and I enjoy every minute of it) I was advice to try the selenium toning.
I already tried to leave a lith print a lot in selenium. In my case, got darker and colder in the first minutes, and after 5 minutes, turn to red-brown. But did not change to something else not even after 30 minutes..I will post some photos wen I scan them. If you want to see some lith prints of mine (since here is about toning) here I posted some without toner: https://www.facebook.com/andreifarcasanuphoto/?fref=ts
Thanks!

 

[goros]

And nothing better thank a sample.

 

[AndreiF]

this is my test: lith print (was yelowish-brown) and after, toned with selenium, dilution 1+14

 

[ericdan]

-Robert, i´d love to but mainly printing on 12x16" papers I have made it difficult for me to find a scanner suitable for sharing my prints. I will download pictures later this year and Fomatone will contribute most in the portfolio.

use Google PhotoScan to scan your prints. Easy.

 

[ericdan]

Hi!

Occasionally I scan internet for inspiration in general and lith prints in specific.
My current favourite paper is Fomatone MG Classics 131 with extreme possibilities and a wide range of achievable colors. But, I can´t find these colors in the pictures on the internet. Why?
There are more or less only the linear yellow-reddish nuances from an untoned or short toned print but really far from what is possible to get.

Don´t if it is news for you but there is a procedure that really get Fomatone into bloom. The secret is Selenium. Eh? Ye, Selenium but during looong time in the bath which create an extended range of colors and even the lith grains develop and change their characteristics. A lot!
I ususally fix in Ilford Hypam 1+4 for two minutes which might make sense and affect the outcome from Selenium toner.

Most pictures seen are toned in dilute Selenium for conventional prints and archival purpose and mainly the recommended 2-6 minutes, but try else. Dilute 1:9-1:14 somewhere (or even stronger) and put the print in for 15 minutes or more. You will discover a journey in changed characteristics and it is really possible to see the change in real time.
For instance, a typical warm yellowish Fomatone print will cool off after approx 2 minutes and turn into a tri-split cold print with grey, purplish and/or greenblue tones.
Suddely this change again around 5 minutes and a warming up will occur with color shift towards coffee. Patience pays off and further development is to be expected. After 10-12 minutes even the grain will start to change and it will get more accentuated. Kind of...grainer but still soft. Waiting even longer and the tone will shift again and end up in a sweet sweet ginger color that is to kill for.

In general, a softer high key print will benefit the most of this method but even a dark print will change.
The Selenium will eventually decrease the contrast which happens in long toning sessions as well. Dark black areas will come out in a warm reddish tone but highlights will remain as llight as initially. So DON´T TOSS POOR OVERDEVELOPED PRINTS AWAY!!! It is possible to recover bad prints and you will be surprised what is achievable with Selenium.

Note, I usually use Kodak Rapid Selenium toner and i believe there might be different compunds from different brands that affect the toning effect on lith prints. Don´t know. Don´t dare to try...hehe.


Get into the dark room and try it! As the Master himself once stated in one of his books: "You are hereby warned!" ;-)

Good luck!

I can confirm this indeed works. I toned Lith prints Fomatone in Selenium for 15 minutes and saw results similar to what you described above.