Spotting before or after Selenium toning

[tomalophicon]

For resin coated matte paper, which is it? Before or after? I was thinking the spot might get washed off or something if you did it before.

 

[Vaughn]

Always after -- like you thought, the spot tone will tend to wash off -- plus selenium toner will react with the silver on the paper and cause it it to change color (depending on the paper, developer, etc), but the spot toner will not change color and will no longer match.

I standardized my process (including the toning) so that I achieved the same print color at the end of the process. That meant I could work up a set formula for my spot tone mix to always match the print color. Actually I had two print colors -- a neutral black (Ilford Gallerie/Dektol) which toned well with Spot Tone #3, and a warm tone (Agfa Potriga Rapid/Dektol) which toned with a combo of 5 drops #3 and one drop "B"(or something like that -- it has been awhile!).

Vaughn

 

[Mainecoonmaniac]

I would spot after toning for a couple of reasons. The first reason is the spot tone might wash off while toning. The second reason is you would notice how the tones have shifted after toning. Some warm paper's tone get cooler when you tone with selenium. So if your spotting wern't washing off while you tone, your spotting might not match your toned print if you spotted first.

 

[tomalophicon]

Thanks all. Got it!

 

[2F/2F]

Definitely after. It should be the last step before mounting. You cannot match the hues of the spot tone and the print unless your print is already toned. Also, it comes off if it gets wet.