I always selenium toned my prints for two purposes: to remove the green cast and to improve DMax. But Selenium toner does not seem to have effect on Adox MCC 110. To begin with, an untoned MCC print does not have a green cast. I tried it in KRST 1:20 for up to 6 minutes and did not see a tone shift at all. I ended up toning the prints for 4 minutes because I thought I saw an increase in dmax at 4 minutes. But that could have been my wishful thinking.
So am I wasting my time selenium toning Adox MCC prints?
I would say that dilution for MCC is not useful for a color change - I do not know what is as I just started using it myself. I love the color of the Adox as is so toning for me is just for archival purposes with MCC.
Just my thoughts. I am so happy with the color in plain old Dektol I could jump for joy at the moment.
Tried one recently at 1:10 and the results were a bit freakish. It was a basic street shot with some trees in it, and the foliage and some shadows turned different colors. Not in a pretty way...some went purplish while others stayed grey. I'm pretty sure I've done it before in 1:20 with contrast change if not color change, but it's hard to remember now...will take better notes this weekend.
I had the same experience as Nancy this week: MCC110 in KRST 1:10... it took 15-20 minutes for any change to occur at all, then this eggplanty color started to emerge. Not subtle at all. I left some prints in for almost an hour and the highlights never changed-- stayed a blue-gray tone.
Prints were developed in LPD 1:2
Today I'll pop a few in at 1:20. I'm just looking for a subtle split-toning here, not the wild ride I got previously.
Glad it wasn't just my isolated experience at 1:10...thought it was so weird. I did some in 1:20 last week and it was difficult to see any shift (which I don't necessarily mind for this paper).
Adox MCC: This is now my standard paper. I always tone in KRS 1:20 for about 6 mins. Very little change required or noticed, very little changed needed from the outstandingly beautiful replacement for Agfa MCC Classic. I do think there is a slight increase in DMAX, and I certainly feel confident that these prints can be thought of as "archivally processed.
It should split tone wonderfully and the effects are stunning. Thomas nJoshua Cooper and Olivia Parker (old work like Weighing the Planets) are two photographers who use the selenium split tones of to great effect.