How to selectively mask for toners?

crumpet8 · Mar 24, 2017

hi,

So I don't know what this technique is called so was unable to find any info on it. I'm looking to use a sepia toner on only parts of my print. I heard about a guy using some sort of wax (I think) to mask off areas before going through the process, anyone know how to do this? I use Matt fibre paper.

Thanks.

tezzasmall · Mar 24, 2017

You need a product like this:

http://shop.silverprint.co.uk/Fotospeed-Fotomask-125-ml/product/25050/07310/

Terry S

adelorenzo · Mar 24, 2017

I have also read that common rubber cement works as a mask although I have yet to try it. Most people seem to recommend thinning it for easier application.

removed account4 · Mar 24, 2017

the only times i have ever toned an image i used rubber cement to mask
it worked well, and was fun to roll off the print when i was done .. ( entertainment ! )

Ian Grant · Mar 24, 2017

I used to do a lot of hand colouring which also involved toning steps - sepia toning, then gold toning, and toning with dye couplers. I preferred to just bleach the areas with paint brushes of varying fineness, I found I could work quickly and accurately. I gave demonstrations of the techniques back in the mid to late 1980s.

I tried special resist materials but found it much slower and less accurate. Here's a simple example:

This was some notes on more advance colouring.

Ian

Patrick Robert James · Mar 24, 2017

I never tried Ian's method. I wish I would have! I used to do selective toning/double toning (I don't know what to call it) back a long time ago. IIRC I used something called Maskoid which was red. I don't think the kind I used is made anymore, but the Fotospeed product above sounds like it. You can also use the masking solution that water color artists use. IIRC it is a latex based product. There is also (or used to be) sheet material you can get that will protect large areas. You can do some neat things with masking, although it is very time consuming

Ian Grant · Mar 24, 2017

I can't remember what masking fluid I bought, like Maskoid it was latex based, I found it wasn't easy to use as accurately as just bleaching free-hand, also with no masking you can gradate if you want.

Ian

crumpet8 · Mar 24, 2017

Ian Grant said:
I used to do a lot of hand colouring which also involved toning steps - sepia toning, then gold toning, and toning with dye couplers. I preferred to just bleach the areas with paint brushes of varying fineness, I found I could work quickly and accurately. I gave demonstrations of the techniques back in the mid to late 1980s.

I tried special resist materials but found it much slower and less accurate. Here's a simple example:

This was some notes on more advance colouring.

Ian

I was thinking I'd start with this actually good to hear it's a tried and true method. Thanks also to everyone else for the input on rubber cement and fotomask.

Ian Grant · Mar 24, 2017

I can't remember what masking fluid I bought, like Maskoid it was latex based, I found it wasn't easy to use as accurately as just bleaching free-hand, also with no masking you can gradate if you want.

Ian

rpavich · Mar 29, 2017

This guy is fun to watch and he uses rubber cement.
The masking starts at the 16 minute mark but watch the whole thing...he's great.

Louis Nargi · Apr 2, 2017

Great post Thanks

Bob Carnie · Apr 3, 2017

When I was in first year photo school we used Elmers glue to mask out areas to tone .

Today I take advantage of bleach sepia and gold for the highlight regions and use selenium for the shadows, I have tried with mixed
success to use Iron Blue at the end to add another colour ,like I said mixed results with the blue.

How to selectively mask for toners?

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