Rescuing slightly dense FBn prints

I made some prints recently on Polywarmtone paper, I didn't allow enough for the dry d own density increase, they looked great wet and after Selenium toning. However once dry shadows had,blocked up.

Before r-printing I thought I'd see what could be done to save them. I bleached them in a strong Ferricyanide/Bromide bleach and washed them well, I was left with just the reddish Selenium image. In artificial light I redeveloped the prints slowly in warmtone print developer at 1+19 rather than the usual 1+9 placing them in stop bath once the correct densities had been achieved, followed by the usual two bath fix, wash etc.

It worked far better than I'd expected, I now have two excellent prints, it's worth a try

Ian

How did you control the highlights from not burning out?

That's a good question, when re-developing with a weaker developer the highlights actually developed faster than the shadow details, you need constant agitation but it seemed very even redevelopment. Yes the highlights are a touch lighter but less so than the shadows, definitely nothing burnt out

It's not something I'd plan to do but was definitely worth while, it's not a major correction. I'll try it on some scrap prints next week.

Ian

Ian Grant said:

I bleached them in a strong Ferricyanide/Bromide bleach and washed them well, I was left with just the reddish Selenium image.

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This means that the print was only partially toned?

JPD said:

This means that the print was only partially toned?

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Selenium toning is only ever partial, a fully Selenium toned print would be a reddish brown and you get split toning of the shadow areas first.

Ian