Selenium toning RC prints after the fact.

[fiddle]

Hello all,
have not been printing for long, been wasting paper getting used to the process, exposure, etc. Whenever I do print, I don't end up with many decent prints, so was curious about selenium toning.
Is it possible to have a bunch of prints Ive printed, washed, dried, stored for maybe a week or two, and then wet, tone and re wash all the prints at once? Not sure if there would be a negative affect to have the prints laying around for an extended period of time before toning them, or would it be beneficial at all after the fact.
The toning is not for anything specific at this point, was curious about seeing the color difference, the protection cant hurt either...

Thank you.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Yes, you can tone after a period of time. Just wash, fix, ... et al according to the direction.

 

[fiddle]

Great, thank you Sirius.
I figured Id soak prints, tone them, then wash, Do you have to re-fix after toning?

Thanks again.

 

[MattKing]

No you don't have to re-fix. The ingredients in Selenium toner actually include a fair amount of fixer, which is probably the reason you have to wash after toning.
You will find that some RC papers (like Ilford MGIV RC) have very little visible response to selenium toning, while others are more responsive.

 

[wyofilm]

You will find that some RC papers (like Ilford MGIV RC) have very little visible response to selenium toning, while others are more responsive.

I just toned some Ilford RC warmtone MGIV paper (pearl). With a 3:1 dilution of the Harmon Se toner, the print pleasantly toned (3-4 min toning). With the greater dilution (1:10, I think), there was little/no toning, but slight deepening of the darkest blacks.

 

[MattKing]

I just toned some Ilford RC warmtone MGIV paper (pearl). With a 3:1 dilution of the Harmon Se toner, the print pleasantly toned (3-4 min toning). With the greater dilution (1:10, I think), there was little/no toning, but slight deepening of the darkest blacks.

The Ilford cooltone RC papers also respond well.
The Ilford neutral tone RC papers? - very little response.

 

[fiddle]

Great guys, appreciate the info. One more thing to screw up. Lol
In terms of washing after the toning, same as after the regular process.?
Been doing about 15 minutes in one of those spraying trays.

 

[MattKing]

Great guys, appreciate the info. One more thing to screw up. Lol
In terms of washing after the toning, same as after the regular process.?
Been doing about 15 minutes in one of those spraying trays.

That is a long wash for RC.
Ilford's recommendation from their Selenium toner data sheet:
"When you have achieved the desired level of toning, wash RC prints for a further 2 minutes, fibre prints for at least 30 minutes in fresh running water above 5°C/41°F. Alternatively for fibre base prints use the ILFORD optimum permanence wash sequence."

 

[images39]

That is a long wash for RC.
Ilford's recommendation from their Selenium toner data sheet:
"When you have achieved the desired level of toning, wash RC prints for a further 2 minutes, fibre prints for at least 30 minutes in fresh running water above 5°C/41°F. Alternatively for fibre base prints use the ILFORD optimum permanence wash sequence."

Agree! 15 minutes is way more than needed for RC. 2-4 minutes and you're set.

Dale