Hints on gold toner please!

andrewmoodie · Feb 1, 2005

As much as I like the look of Speedibrew's porcelain blue I don't want to give a print to a friend that's just going to fade in a year or so. So, I'm going to give Tetenal gold a try.

Anyone got any advice? Should I print one stop lighter? How does this stuff respond to a contrasty image? What's a good FB paper to use?

Thanks.

Andrew

Leon · Feb 1, 2005

I suggest you get Tim Rudman's book on toning - it is incredibly detailed and seems to answer all toning questions.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos...057/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/202-2276718-0290222

FrankB · Feb 1, 2005

I second the vote for Tim Rudman's toning book. His darkroom book is also excellent.

I've just done my first gold-toned print (using Fotospeed AU20) and am delighted with it! On MGWT FB Glossy it took about 20 mins to get the strong colour shift that I wanted, but it came out with just the steely blue-black that I had hoped for. However, working it out from the cost and the exhaustion figures, I reckon it'll add about 50p to the cost of each 10x8 print on which I use it...

According to Tim Rudman, the Porcelain Blue is not archival but is better than the traditional ferric blues.

blackmelas · Feb 1, 2005

I've used the Tetenal Goldtoner with Tetenal Vario, Ilford MGIV and MGWT. MGWT took the tone the most readily without a harsh split and gave the most even tone. The vario splits sharply in Seleinum 1:5 and does so with gold to a lesser extent. I have a print in my gallery on MGWT that's as good a representation as I have at (there was a url link here which no longer exists)

And as Leon said Rudman's book is an amazing resource. Good luck.
James

blackmelas · Feb 1, 2005

I forgot to mention that even with full toning I haven't found that you have to modify your exposure with the goldtoner. I think that Rudman also says that gold toning may slightly increase your max blacks and make your highlights a little lighter but for me it was minimal and I made no adjustments.
James

andrewmoodie · Feb 1, 2005

Thanks for the advice guys. I really like Ilford's MGWT paper so I'll give it a try with that. I've never used Tetenal paper before. Blackmelas that's a really cool photo you've provided as an example, it's kind of spooky.

Dave Miller · Feb 1, 2005

andrewmoodie said:
As much as I like the look of Speedibrew's porcelain blue I don't want to give a print to a friend that's just going to fade in a year or so. So, I'm going to give Tetenal gold a try.

Anyone got any advice? Should I print one stop lighter? How does this stuff respond to a contrasty image? What's a good FB paper to use?

Thanks.

Andrew

You don't need to vary your exposure, but you do need to be very clean with regards to trays. This toner contaminates very easily, so reserve a tray especially for it and nothing else. Also make sure prints are well washed before putting them in the gold toner, which should be used last.

ann · Feb 1, 2005

we have tested Ilford WT with Fotospeed gold, and it will shift to a grey blue shade.

Dave Miller · Feb 1, 2005

A couple more points about Gold Toner occurred to me during the drive home from work this evening. Gold Toner is said to be as archival as Selenium toner. Like Selenium a relatively quick dunk does the archival bit without any noticeable image colour change. Longer immersion gives the cold blue tone, but the shade of blue given changes with successive prints treated. After two or three uses it provides, to my eyes, a much more pleasant blue. Lastly it keeps well, provided it is not contaminated, although it doesnt have the capacity of other toners. Having said all that I must confess that I have only used Tetenals product. Hope that adds to the debate?

andrewmoodie · Feb 2, 2005

Thanks everyone. I've got the Tetenal gold on order and I'll try some of the prints I've already got. I printed them on cooltone, and Ole says that cooltone doesn't respond to toning that well. However, I'm happy to get more Ilford WT, I think it's lovely paper. As soon as I get a good result I'll add it to my gallery and give you all a heads up. I think it's going to be a great picture. Thanks again for your help.

Andrew

skahde · Feb 3, 2005

andrewmoodie said:
I printed them on cooltone, and Ole says that cooltone doesn't respond to toning that well.

I tried Agfa MCC developed in a d72-based coldtone developer in Tetenal gold-toner and it took about 20min untill there was a more than just a hint of blue. The same paper developed in diluted Neutol WA responded much better. I suggest you print one or two examples on a warmtone-paper as it may respond much better and give more encouraging results on your first day with a new toner. You need to wash the paper to completion to prevent staining btw.

best

Stefan

Hints on gold toner please!

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