Hello From Minneapolis

[mcrouser11]

Hello… I’m checking in from my darkroom in Minneapolis. I shoot mainly with a Pentax 67, and Tri-X film. For many, many years, I toned all my prints with Kodak brown toner,, later with brown toner rom Legacy Pro. This stuff has all gone extinct, and I have been trying to find a way to either buy or make the brown toner for several years. I found a recipe for Kodak’s old formulation, and had a PhD student in chemistry mix it up for me. But, several experiments have yielded no discernible results on paper. If anyone else has any ideas about brown toner (not sepia, copper, etc.) I would love to chat about it. All the best to all you analogue warriors out there! MC

 

[mcrouser11]

I see that people sometimes post their introductory photos here…so, a couple to view:

 

[absalom1951]

Hello Neighbor, Welcome. Great photos.

 

[Don_ih]

Was this the formula your chemist friend mixed up?

In Processing Chemicals and Formulas, Kodak claims it's very similar to Brown Toner.

 

[bernard_L]

• What paper are you trying to tone? I know from experience that Ilford MG hardly tones in selenium toner; brown toner I don't know.
• You might try bleach+redevelop in thiocarbamide. It is reported to work well with Ilford MG. Also, various tones are possible. See, e.g.
  
  

  My first shot at Thiocarbamide toning

  I like the look, but I'm going for a more subtle warmth. I think I might have to dilute the bleach more. But I like it because the process has no sulphery stench.

  www.photrio.com

 

[Sirius Glass]

Welcome to Photio!

 

[Derek Lofgreen]

Welcome Michael! Glad to see you here. I have been a longtime fan of your work and find myself in the Twin Cities now since 2020. No idea how to help with the toner but would love to know if you figure it out.

D.

 

[mshchem]

Welcome from your neighbor south of the border.

Brown toner, just stinky old direct sulfide toner?. I had liver of sulfur, I think I tossed as it's so hard to isolate.

 

[Team473]

Welcome to forum.

 

[Derek Lofgreen]

@mcrouser11 I think this is what your looking for is this https://stores.photoformulary.com/polysulfide-toner/

Seems like the same or similar formula to the Kodak toner you used to use.

Derek

 

[mcrouser11]

Was this the formula your chemist friend mixed up?

View attachment 379687

In Processing Chemicals and Formulas, Kodak claims it's very similar to Brown Toner.

 

[mcrouser11]

That’s the stuff! Confusion comes in whether it’s working solution or concentrate…

 

[mcrouser11]

@mcrouser11 I think this is what your looking for is this https://stores.photoformulary.com/polysulfide-toner/

Seems like the same or similar formula to the Kodak toner you used to use.

Derek

This looks like the right stuff…but at $17 for a liter of working solution it’s an expensive undertaking. I usually use at least a gallon for working on 11x14s and 16x20s.

 

[Don_ih]

That’s the stuff! Confusion comes in whether it’s working solution or concentrate…

My bet is that's working solution and may need to be used after mixing. Perhaps it lasts longer than that. But there is no indication in the text that you should dilute it.