selenium after TF-4 fixer help

[Al D'Addario]

I'm really trying to simplify my printing by using less chemicals. I'm using Oriental Seagull developed in Formulary BW-65, water wash, TF-4 fixer.

I want to use selenium just to protect the print, not to change the color...
How do I do it? (dilution ratio, time, etc.)

Thanks, I'm really new to this bit having fun!

Al D'Addario

 

[Ronald Moravec]

Mix some selenium 1:20 with working strength HCA. Use directly after fix, no rinse,

Then do archival wash sequence.

 

[Claire Senft]

I do not use Oriental Seagull. Different papers will react to toning at different speeds. I agree that 1:20 is a good starting dilution. If 1:20 gives you a color change that you do not want then try 1:40. You will be getting intensification of your balcks. What I would recommend is that you make a test strip of a very dark black and cut it into say 6 pieces. On the back write a number starting with 2 thru 7. Also have an patch that will not be toned. Tone the pieces for the number of minutes written on the back.
Lay your pieces in order and under good light find the blackest patch. Read the number on the back. If the number is 6 then 6 minutes gives you the maximum intensification. If the number is 7 then process another strip of 6 pieces starting at 7 minutes and going thru 13 minutes. After the maximum intensification is reached the black will beome lighter. I would certainly expect that you will find the maximum will fall within the range suggested.

Enjoy.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I like Claire's testing procedure. I do a wash before selenium toning and do not use HCA in the toner, but both are valid approaches. If you've toned with acid fixer in the past, you may find that your toning times are dramatically shorter after TF-4.