Ilford selenium toner

[lesd]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

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]

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.

 

[lesd]

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]

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]

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

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

Jonathan

 

[Dave Miller]

I find it quite good for clearing my sinuses.

 

[MurrayMinchin]

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

Thanks Jonathan...I try to be an all alkaline kinda guy

Murray

 

[MurrayMinchin]

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

Thanks Jonathan and Dave...I try to be an all alkaline kinda guy

Murray

 

[Removed Account]

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]

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]

Now what?

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

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.

Another question:

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

Thanks in advance

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

 

[goros]

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]

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