Selenium toning of Multigrade IV RC

[Tony-S]

Does anyone have experience with selenium toning of Multigrade IV RC paper? I have Berg selenium toning solution but have never used it with RC papers. Any tips or concerns?

 

[MattKing]

You won't see much change, unless and until after a really long time a transition to a somewhat ugly purple-brown.

 

[ic-racer]

I had the same expierence as MattKing. Try the Ilford MG Warm fiber based.

 

[Anon Ymous]

Yes, the purple hue is pretty much what you can expect. But, if your prints turn out a bit greenish, a short dip in rather dilute selenium toner can get rid of it.

 

[Craig75]

I got a very tiny contrast / dmax increase and a slight auberginey colour shift. (From memory this was in a very strong solution)

Personally i wouldnt bother unless you have the selenium out for other papers and just want to dunk the multigrade in as a test to see for yourself.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Does anyone have experience with selenium toning of Multigrade IV RC paper? I have Berg selenium toning solution but have never used it with RC papers. Any tips or concerns?

full selenium toning increases print longevity but the change in color may be objectionable. brief direct polysulphide toning also increases longevity without much color change. toning in both(in sequence), also called split-toning is an option

 

[pentaxuser]

Try it out and see what you think. One or in this case even several men's ugly purple brown may be an OK tone for another man If I have learned only one thing and this has been even more apparent in recent years, it is that Photrio is a broad church with a whole spectrum of tastes

pentaxuser

 

[Saganich]

I got a very tiny contrast / dmax increase and a slight auberginey colour shift. (From memory this was in a very strong solution)

Same with old stock multigrade fiber IV. I used a strong solution as well.

 

[pentaxuser]

Tony-S Certainly the WT RC paper from Ilford gives with Ilford Selenium Toner what I think can be an attractive pink tone at 1+4 selenium. Berg selenium may be different but I'd have thought it to be very similar.

There is a short video in Ilford Photo Darkroom Guides episode 2 which demonstrates its effect on Ilford WT paper

pentaxuser

 

[Tony-S]

OK, thanks for the replies. I will forego the toning.

 

[MattKing]

There are other RC papers that do tone more.
The Ilforf MGIV RC Cooltone is one of my favourites.

 

[brian steinberger]

I used to always tone MGIV RC in Kodak selenium 1:9 for 4 minutes and got a wonderful cool slightly blue tone. I use LPD as developer. I find the new MGRC runs away on me in selenium. In some regards I’ll miss the MGIV RC and FB for the way they cooled off nicely in heavy selenium.

 

[138S]

I find the new MGRC runs away on me in selenium.

Datasheet says (https://www.ilfordphoto.com/amfile/file/download/file/1954/product/745/)

"New Multigrade RC Deluxe has an improved toning response. When selenium toning a noticeable boost to shadow contrast and black density is observed. Image tone will take on a slight aubergine colouration if extended toning times are used. The new paper also responds better to Sepia and split toning techniques"

Still I've not tried the new (V version) MGRC because rigth now I'm playing with FB, but a friend told me he (personally) found that the V is well better for toning than the IV, but a lower chem strength or shorter time may be necessary to not toast the image.

 

[brian steinberger]

Datasheet says (https://www.ilfordphoto.com/amfile/file/download/file/1954/product/745/)

"New Multigrade RC Deluxe has an improved toning response. When selenium toning a noticeable boost to shadow contrast and black density is observed. Image tone will take on a slight aubergine colouration if extended toning times are used. The new paper also responds better to Sepia and split toning techniques"

Still I've not tried the new (V version) MGRC because rigth now I'm playing with FB, but a friend told me he (personally) found that the V is well better for toning than the IV, but a lower chem strength or shorter time may be necessary to not toast the image.

Yea, I should have mentioned that with the new Classic paper and MGRC paper I use Kodak selenium at the 1:19 dilution (instead of 1:9) for 3-4 minutes and get acceptable results. Not quite as cold as MGIV but close. The only downside to this is the print is not getting as much protection.

I am looking forward to using MGRC in a thio sepia. MGIV both FB and RC were a bit lacking in that department IMO and I always used MGWT when I wanted any sepia tone.

 

[138S]

The only downside to this is the print is not getting as much protection...

Well... perhaps if the toning takes place faster then it may get a comparable protection... An LE-500 test would say it but only specialized labs would do it.

Personally I feel our main risk comes from the base shifting to yelllow, at least is wher I had some pitfalls !

 

[Lachlan Young]

The only downside to this is the print is not getting as much protection.

It isn't the selenium that's protecting the print I recall, but rather a very small level of a sulfide contaminant or similar - for the selenium itself to protect the print, you would have to tone it to the point that it had entirely changed colour.

 

[warden]

I stopped selenium toning Multigrade IV RC because of the purple result. I don't want purple to last forever. ;-)