Selenium Toning at greater than 1:10.......

[Chuck_P]

........with Ilford MGIV FB. Does anyone do it and does it produce a greater density shift or shift in color? Thanks

Chuck

 

[brian steinberger]

I'm assuming you mean stronger dilution? I regularly tone MGIV FB at 1:9 for 6-8 minutes. It cools off to a very nice bluish purple tone and the shadows are increased by about 1/4 grade. I've never tried it at 1:5 or 1:3, but would be interested to hear results.

 

[Chuck_P]

Yes, Brian, I worded that poorly, I meant stronger dilution.

 

[rorye]

I usually use 1:7 and have about the same results as Brian. Nice deep blacks.

 

[brian steinberger]

I've gotten into the habit now of printing slightly soft on MGIV and slamming it in selenium as I mentioned above. Not only does this greatly protect the print (much more than 1:20, 1:40 dilutions for a minute or two) but it also takes the tone of the paper to a true neutral tone, slightly cool. Great stuff!

 

[Chuck_P]

I went ahead and mixed up my last batch at 1:10---if I'd had more on-hand I would've experimented a bit, guess it'll have to wait til the next fresh bottle.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Do all of you use the Kodak rapid selenium toner? Or have you tried the Ilford / Harman version too?
I've only gone as far as three minutes at about 1:5 dilution, and now I'm curious to see what happens at 6-8 minutes.

 

[Chuck_P]

Thomas,
I've always used Kodak's selenium toner, but just never stronger than a 10% solution. Are you printing on Ilford's MGIV FB, if so, how much of D-max increase do you perceive with it. Currently, at a 10% strength with MGIV FB, I'm not really having to account for the important shadows in printing, meaning, I can print them the way that I want, and after toning the shadows are strengthened with the detail in those shadows still satisfactory. I was wandering if going stronger on the selenium for more of a color shift, if I would then have to go easier on the shadows in printing and then rely on the Dmax increase in toning to get them where I wanted them to be originally.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

I think that the Harman selenium toning gives me shadows that are approximately 1/4 stop denser than untoned. That's using Ilford MGIV fiber. And I perceive a tiny color shift towards a hair more neutral black. I just haven't tried extending toning times to something like 6-8 minutes.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

yes,andi don't see any reason why it should be different

 

[AndreasT]

I now use Adox Selenium in the dilution of 1+30 to about 1+50. I never saw a real difference to the Kodak toner. I tone for about 2 mintes at 24°c. A stronger dilution would work too quickly for me. Then again I only like a slight toning.

 

[Bob Carnie]

My dilution is 1:5 with different times for different effects.

 

[ged]

Bob, what are the range of times you use and the effects you are after?

 

[dpurdy]

i guess I use it the strongest. I sometimes need to tone the Ilford WT to the completely reddish color and I use the toner 1-4.
Works fine no problems and tones pretty quickly.
Dennis

 

[Bob Carnie]

Warm tone papers are much faster... I use 45 seconds generally with Ilford Warmtone and Dektol - this will take a bit of the green out and gives a nice neutral warm tone
to the paper.

Coldtone papers I will go a bit longer.

Generally with Selenium I am just adding the selenium so it attaches to the silver for archival purposes rather than selenium toning for a look

My main method is to combine bleach sepia first then selenium on warm and cold papers which I believe adds a oommpph to my prints.
depending on the look I am going for , I will adjust the bleach time from as little as 5 seconds to a full on bleach to get deep browns.

When I feel I can charge more I will add Gold toner after the sepia bath then selenium
On cold tone papers like Galerie the upper highlights will go peachy warm and the tri tone effect is very compelling but very expensive to work with.

Bob, what are the range of times you use and the effects you are after?

 

[Bob Carnie]

Ged

Warm tone papers are much faster... I use 45 seconds generally with Ilford Warmtone and Dektol - this will take a bit of the green out and gives a nice neutral warm tone
to the paper.

Coldtone papers I will go a bit longer.

Generally with Selenium I am just adding the selenium so it attaches to the silver for archival purposes rather than selenium toning for a look

My main method is to combine bleach sepia first then selenium on warm and cold papers which I believe adds a oommpph to my prints.
depending on the look I am going for , I will adjust the bleach time from as little as 5 seconds to a full on bleach to get deep browns.

When I feel I can charge more I will add Gold toner after the sepia bath then selenium
On cold tone papers like Galerie the upper highlights will go peachy warm and the tri tone effect is very compelling but very expensive to work with.

Bob, what are the range of times you use and the effects you are after?