Old sodium sulfide bath "solarization"

[noofzz]

Hello!!

I use paper reversal process.
sometimes, when the last bath (fogging Na2S) stands for a long time - you can get very strange pictures, like solarized, and covered with "rainbows"...

Does any body know what happens to the chemistry? Can this effect be obtained without weeks or months of waiting and using the solution?

 

[Gerald C Koch]

Very finely divided silver can appear as different colors. The color is dependent on the size of the silver grains. Why this happens with an aged sulfide solution but not a fresh one is a good question. Haven't a clue but the effect is quite striking. Perhaps a change in sulfide ion concentration due to oxidation.

 

[pdeeh]

It has it's own charm, by the looks of the results.

Are there any particular advantages to using sulfide as a fogging agent rather than an exposure?

 

[Gerald C Koch]

It has it's own charm, by the looks of the results.

Are there any particular advantages to using sulfide as a fogging agent rather than an exposure?

Some people have difficulties with re-exposure. The sulfide bath produces sepia images and are good for an old-time look particularly with slides. The images produced are archival while those from a conventional re-developer are not.

 

[pdeeh]

ta

 

[noofzz]

It has it's own charm, by the looks of the results.

Are there any particular advantages to using sulfide as a fogging agent rather than an exposure?

Shure, it gives sepia, not black metallic silver! And you don't need to exit darkroom or turn on a daylight there.