Gold Toning The Kallitype Before & After Fixing Test

The results I get are different, whether I tone before or after the fix... One gives me more tone change, and the other nicer dark tones...

It's a striking difference for sure! I have to admit that I tone Van Dykes and also salt prints almost invariably after fixing, so I'm quite familiar with the appearance it gives. I like the more neutral/cool hue.

I vote you get a slap on the back and a hero badge for making such large test prints. Thanks a bunch for sharing!

koraks said:

It's a striking difference for sure! I have to admit that I tone Van Dykes and also salt prints almost invariably after fixing, so I'm quite familiar with the appearance it gives. I like the more neutral/cool hue.

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Are there any reasons why toning before the fix is the "usual" recommendation?

My Kallitype process is a little different than Andrew's and I get blue blacks with my gold toner.

I'm using sodium acetate for my developer which on its own will yield neutral blacks. Using the 231 gold toner (ammonium thiocyanate + gold chloride) I get blue blacks when toned to completion. The dmax is enhanced and the highlight values gain a small amount of density when compared with platinum or palladium toner.

I did once get blue purples which I haven't tried to repeat yet. I think I got this by heating the toner in an attempt to speed up the process.

There are so many variations on gold toner formulas which can net all sorts of results.

I haven't tried 231 toner after fixing, only before.

MurrayMinchin said:

I vote you get a slap on the back and a hero badge for making such large test prints. Thanks a bunch for sharing!


Are there any reasons why toning before the fix is the "usual" recommendation?

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My understanding for the advice "tone before fixing" is that gold toning produces silver ions which need to be completely removed in order to have a stable print. I have never seen any experimental evidence for this assertion.

I suppose that if one wants to be careful one should re-fix a print that is toned after its initial fixing.

fgorga said:

My understanding for the advice "tone before fixing" is that gold toning produces silver ions which need to be completely removed in order to have a stable print. I have never seen any experimental evidence for this assertion.

I suppose that if one wants to be careful one should re-fix a print that is toned after its initial fixing.

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Thanks for that..I'll give it a whirl next time I get in the dimroom. This is interesting to me because I like the idea of working through as many work prints as needed before reaching for the gold/platinum/palladium toners.