Selenium toning of film

Selenium toning of film is accepted as increasing contrast in film without increasing the grain size. Also offered is the possibility of LE improvement.

Since I am always interested in giving the least development to 35mm film that is required, selenium toning is a natural for the process.

Obviously this can be done after fixing with or without Hypo Clearing Agent.

If there is an ASPUG member that has less knowledge than do I about chemistry I can say "Here is an extraordinary ignoramus".

Now we get to the question I would like advice about. Since Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner has a good deal of rapid fixing agent in it can selenium toning be integrtated with fixing as a single step?

I will be interested in following this thread. I recently followed Adams' selenium toning procedure (using Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner) to attempt to intensify a flat negative. I could see no difference between that negative and an identically exposed one that was not treated. I've been wondering what I did wrong.

FirePhoto said:

I will be interested in following this thread. I recently followed Adams' selenium toning procedure (using Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner) to attempt to intensify a flat negative. I could see no difference between that negative and an identically exposed one that was not treated. I've been wondering what I did wrong.

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I will be interested in following this too. Like Dan, I have used selenium on negs a number of times and the difference has been very, very subtle in my case, to say the least!

regards,
Neil.

I don't believe it would be wise, even if chemically it might work, to combine the toner with the fixer.
I never tone negatives until they have dried and I have a good look at them. Generally I only tone those portions which I wish to print as a bright, textured highlight. On occasion I do tone an entire negative which has inadvertently been under developed, but fully exposed.
If your development procedure is good, it doesn't seem desirable to always under develop and then tone.

My procedure is to use Rapid Selenium Toner 1+2 to 1+4 and tone for 5 minutes. the negative is then run through a washing aid and thoroughtly washed. This process gains about 1/2 to 3/4 zones in the highlights. Visually it is dificult to see any difference except color. The color adds printing density thus the increase in printing contrast.

I would not think there would be enough fixer to adequately fix the film. I certainly would not trust this method with my films without carefuly testing first.

For what it's worth, in my experience selenium only boosts the contrast by about half a filter grade or so while sepia seems to give me a full grade more.

- Randy

Mixing fix and toner is fine. The issue I run into is that your fixer will become useless as fix long before your toner will. This tends to waste the selenium toner.

If you need the contrast, there are several ways to increase contrast that involve other methods, such as sulfide toning. The contrast change can be fairly dramatic, but once toned, that is pretty much where the neg will stay.


Bleaching and redeveloping in Pyro, such as PMK, can do a fine job and give that grain masking of the stain.

I have found up to 2 full grades of contrast with sulphide toning and 1/2 to a whole grade with selenium.

YMMV,

Thank you one and all. I already bleach & redevelop in pyro. I consider KRST expensive enough that I am loath to waste it. I have 2 questions additional. When I keep KRDT in a stainless tank it develops a black residue that adheres to the tank interior. I do not have any plastic tanks. Would plastic eliminate this deposit?

What process are you using for sulphide toning?

TIA

The black residue happens in any container. I believe it to be selenium preciptate, regardless, it causes no harm and should cause you no worry.

For sulphide toning I do the typical bleach with bromide for redevelopment and then the typical smelly sodium sulphide.