Selenium staining problems

Wisp · Jul 24, 2006

Good day, I have seemed to be having problems with my selenium toner (Kodak Rapid selenium toner).

Over the past few weeks, it had been fine and I had been toning without problems, but recently, a black precipitate (I'm assuming it to be silver) has accumulated in the toner. I have drained it off , but when I use the toner again with the paper (Agfa Premium RC) , first it turns brown, then a horrible black, and then the paper starts to stain an unsightly brown.

Is there any solution to this?? Thanks!!

Regards, TY

Sydney

Jim Noel · Jul 24, 2006

I would need to know your fixing, washing and toning procedure before offering any ideas.

Ryuji · Jul 24, 2006

Try again with a fresh fixer and give it good fixing time and agitation.

Your description sounds like your second try was made with insufficiently fixed prints. I don't think the black precipitate you saw earlier is relevant to your problem.

StephenS · Jul 24, 2006

Maybe someone will have a very specific answer but I would echo the above. Try some new toner and make sure you are following good procedures when fixing and washing. I've found my toner problems came from being sloppy when fixing.

reellis67 · Jul 25, 2006

I would guess that your fixer is exhausted, or that as the others have said, you have not washed your prints well enough, or perhaps even both. I typically wash RC paper for 15 minutes and then let it dry before toning (although I have not used RC for a long time, the process should not have changed). Always check your fixer before starting a printing session, and it is not a bad idea to check it during the session if you are doing a lot of printing. Edwal makes a fixer exhaustion fluid, that while somewhat expensive, is good insurance if you don't regularly replace your fixer.

- Randy

Tony Egan · Jul 25, 2006

I also get a some small amounts of black slime in selenium toner (Kodak) which has not made any difference to toning of prints. If it gets too annoying I will drain it through a clean hanky and re-use. I generally judge the usefulness of the toner by nose. Hardly scientific but fairly reliable.

J D Clark · Jul 25, 2006

Tony Egan said:
I also get a some small amounts of black slime in selenium toner (Kodak) which has not made any difference to toning of prints. If it gets too annoying I will drain it through a clean hanky and re-use. I generally judge the usefulness of the toner by nose. Hardly scientific but fairly reliable.

I've found that you can minimize the black precipitate in the toner if it's mixed with distilled water. Of course, this necessitates that prints are pre-treated with Permawash or hypo-clear before going into the toner.

As mentioned by others above, the precipitate doesn't seem to affect the prints at all, and is easily filtered.

I like to make sure that prints are nearly neutral when going into the toner, and not containing acidic fixer. My procedure uses a water rinse after fixer, then Permawash, a water rinse, and then into the toner.

John Clark
www.johndclark.com

fschifano · Jul 25, 2006

I agree. The black precipitate that you find in selenium toner is not the problem. Insufficiently washed prints are usually the the problem. Fixer and selenium toner don't play together well.

PepMiro · Jul 25, 2006

It's highly reccomended a treatment with hypo clearing agent before toning with selenium. Otherwise, you need to wash for a long time before toning.

tim rudman · Jul 25, 2006

Wisp said:
Good day, I have seemed to be having problems with my selenium toner (Kodak Rapid selenium toner).

<< recently, a black precipitate (I'm assuming it to be silver) has accumulated in the toner.
<<when I use the toner again << the paper starts to stain an unsightly brown.
Sydney

You can ignore the precitate Sydney, it's harmless. Se staining usually comes from inadequate fixing, leaving unfixed halides in the emulsion, or from putting an acidic print into the toner.
'Practice Safe Selenium' and use only fresh fixer followed by hypo clearing agent
Tim

StephenS · Jul 25, 2006

I know some people who used to tone during the hypo clear step. But fix (properly), wash a bit, hypo clear, full wash, and then tone should eliminate troubles.

Wisp · Jul 25, 2006

StephenS said:
I know some people who used to tone during the hypo clear step. But fix (properly), wash a bit, hypo clear, full wash, and then tone should eliminate troubles.

Hmmm yeah, my fixer is abit old. I think I'd swap it out. Usually I wash from 3-5 min per sheet and fix for 2 mins. Thanks alot guys!

jeroldharter · Jul 26, 2006

Check this out:

Hey Lloyd

Selenium staining problems

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