Ilford selenium toner

lesd

Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2005
Messages
68
Format
35mm
Firstly may I apologise as there has been a recent thread on similar lines to this one, but I am unable to locate it. This is probably due to my inexperience in finding my way round discussion forums.

I have just had my first go at selenium toning using the new Ilford Harman product. I made it up 1+3 dilution and left the print in for about half an hour. The colour change can hardly be discerned and the print looks virtually the same as the untoned print. There is no difference in the intensity of the blacks. This is somewhat discouraging. I am not casting doubt on the toner but wonder if the paper (Fomobrom variant matte; FB) does not respond to Se toning as I understand is the case for some papers.

The recent thread mentioned above did report a similar problem but I do not recall the paper or make of toner. If someone could point me to this thread I would be most grateful.

Regards

Les
 

AlanC

Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2004
Messages
348
Location
North Yorksh
Les,
Some papers respond well to selenium toner and others hardly change at all; as you are beginning to find out for yourself. Ilford's own multigrade 4 fibre hardly changes, but Ilford warmtone fibre responds very well, for instance.

Alan Clark
 

Tom Kershaw

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 5, 2004
Messages
4,974
Location
Norfolk, United Kingdom
Format
Multi Format
I've experienced fairly pronounced changes Selenium toning Kentmere Fineprint Glossy, using the Fotospeed toner at 1+9. IIRC It's also recommended to keep the toner solution at a higher temperature than 20ºC. I toned at approx. 24ºC for 4 to 8 minutes.

Tom.
 

John Simmons

Member
Joined
Nov 2, 2004
Messages
934
Location
Michigan
Format
Medium Format
A half hour seems very long....especially with the fomabrom paper. When selenium toning, most papers show an increase in dmax up to about 5-6 minutes in the toner. After this time, dmax actually begins to drop as the blacks go from black to purples and browns. Did you agitate constantly? Selenium toning seems much more effective using constant agitation. There was an article in photo techniques regarding selenium toning for maximum black.

Regards,
John
 

light leak

Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2005
Messages
147
Location
Morris, Illi
Format
Multi Format
I've only used it on Ilford MGIV WT yet but for me the increase in d/max was so pronounced (with respect to KRST) that I'll need to re-learn Se toning. I'm overdoing everything at the moment. It works fast.

Jonathan
 

jeroldharter

Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2005
Messages
1,955
Location
Wisconsin
Format
4x5 Format
AlanC said:
Les,
Some papers respond well to selenium toner and others hardly change at all; as you are beginning to find out for yourself. Ilford's own multigrade 4 fibre hardly changes, but Ilford warmtone fibre responds very well, for instance.

Alan Clark
Click to expand...

I agree. Kentmere FP FB is very responsive to toner starting with slight increase in Dmax, to cold black, to eggplant, to selenium red. I use KRST at 1:10 for 2-3 minutes with Kentmere FP for the cold black tones. Ilford MG has a slightly brown tone to the blacks which I think cools off a little in selenium but not much. Zone VI Brilliant and Forte Polywarmtone papers also respond nicely to selenium toners.

Has anyone tried the Kentmere RST?
 

Leon

Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2003
Messages
2,075
Location
UK
Format
Medium Format
les - I've used the Harman toner and found to work as I imagined - very little shift on ilford MGIV especially if a cold-developer is used. I've not tried it with the foma variant yet, but from what I know if that paper, I wouldnt expect huge colour shifts, not like one could achieve with MG WT or fomatone. If you're wanting strong colour shifts, try over printing your final print by about 50 - 100%, bleach back in a usual bleach bath as supplied with variable sepia kits, then re-develop the print in the selenium - this works well if you can get the over-exposure amount correct.
 
OP
OP

lesd

Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2005
Messages
68
Format
35mm
Thanks for the comments. I need to do some more experimentation, and I have some fomabrom so it will be interesting to see what this is like.
 

MurrayMinchin

Membership Council
Subscriber
Joined
Jan 9, 2005
Messages
5,481
Location
North Coast BC Canada
Format
Hybrid
I've got a question...is Ilford's selenium toner diluted in Ammonium Thiosulfate like (I'm pretty sure) Kodak's is?

I get 60% Ammonium Thiosulfate solution as an ingredient for my fixer and it's pretty stinky stuff, but KRST stock solution will snap your head back the Ammonium smell is so stong.

Murray
 

light leak

Member
Joined
Nov 23, 2005
Messages
147
Location
Morris, Illi
Format
Multi Format

Yes it is, Murray. And it'll knock your socks off!

Jonathan
 

MurrayMinchin

Membership Council
Subscriber
Joined
Jan 9, 2005
Messages
5,481
Location
North Coast BC Canada
Format
Hybrid

MurrayMinchin

Membership Council
Subscriber
Joined
Jan 9, 2005
Messages
5,481
Location
North Coast BC Canada
Format
Hybrid

Removed Account

Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2007
Messages
907
Location
Nanaimo, Bri
Format
35mm
I'm having flashbacks to when I first began darkroom work and bought a bottle of stop bath concentrate. I wanted to smell it, and ignoring the first thing taught in high school chem (to WAFT, not directly inhale) I nearly keeled over.

- Justin
 

goros

Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2006
Messages
279
Location
The Basque C
Format
Medium Format
A beginner question

Hi all,

I'm also a beginner regarding selinium toning. My initial purpose is just conservation.

I have read as much as I've been able to find (not much really) about selenium toning and there are lots of very vague instructions.

My process is the following:

After exposure, developing in Ilford Multigrade for 2 minutes. Then stopping in Ilfostop for 10 seconds and then 1 minute in Ilford Rapid Fixer. Afterwards, the print is washed for 60 minutes.

Now what?

To do selenium toning what else do I must do? Any washing aid, bleaching, etc?:confused:

Another question:

Is there any Se toner that wasn't too smelly?:confused:

Thanks in advance
 

Leon

Member
Joined
Dec 1, 2003
Messages
2,075
Location
UK
Format
Medium Format
goros said:
Now what?

To do selenium toning what else do I must do? Any washing aid, bleaching, etc?:confused:
Click to expand...

you dont have to do anything - just mix up the toner as per the instructions, tone and wash again. You can bleach back first if you like for a different colour effect, but it's not necessary for basic selenium toning. Some people seleniuj first, then wash and then bleach the highlights (drag bleaching) to lift them a little, but it's a creative choice, not a necessity.

goros said:
Another question:

Is there any Se toner that wasn't too smelly?:confused:

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

I've used Kodak, Maco, fotospeed and Ilford Harman and they all stink.
 

goros

Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2006
Messages
279
Location
The Basque C
Format
Medium Format
Thanks Leon.

I think that's more than enough for my purpose. I don't remember where I read that there is one selenium toner that doesn't stink too much. I'm trying to find it out as my darkroom doesn't have ventilation and I don't want to do it in the kitchen.

Again thanks
 

goros

Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2006
Messages
279
Location
The Basque C
Format
Medium Format
By the way, I just have had a look to your site and realized you are the "Leon Taylor" that writes in B&W Photography. Very good work on last issue.

Cheers
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…