Tetenal Triponal Sepia Toner

Hi all - feel a bit sheepish asking about this but cannot really understand the directions that comes with this kit - has anyone else out there used this lately? Comes with a bottle of bleach stock solution, a bottle of Toner Control stock solution and a sachet of Thiocarbamide powder with instructions to dissolve this in 1 litre of water. Is this then a stock solution also?
If so what's the dilution per litre of water? If not then the instructions for the mixing ratios seem to indicate that to achieve a sepia tone then I have to use this litre of Thiocarb. with 100ml of Toner and that this will only keep for 1 day - and means I can't try any other toner mixing ratios because the Thiocar. is already all used up? Just doesn't make sense to me but then I'm not the world's best at reading instructions - I'm sure I've misunderstood this or something's been lost in the English translation. Can anyone enlighten me and silly question number two - is this process done with a safelight only or white lights on? I'm using images on Kentmere Bromide graded paper by the way and I'm after a medium-type sepia effect. Got to tone this weekend by the way ...HELP!!
Patricia de Roeck.

Hi Pat, thiocarbamide toner is a bleach and redevelop type of toner, which means that you bleach the already developed and fixed image and then redevelop it in the toner solution. Both steps are taken in normal lighting conditions, since the paper is not light sensitive anymore. (these toners are used in order to film - in cinematography - the image appearing on a white piece of paper, when the filmmaker wants to show a photographer working in the darkroom. A red gelatin is usually placed on the camera lens, in order to immitate the effect of safelight).

I have never used the Tetenal toner, I know Tetenal has a bit strange directions (they're German, you see) but if you pay attention to what is written you should normally understand what is meant, for it is quite rationally expressed (they're German, you see).

In general Thiocarbamide toner is made of two solutions, the dilution amount of each will give a slightly different image tone.

I think you should acquire The Toning Book by Tim Rudman and the Darkroom Cookbook by Anchell and Troop.

Try this too:
http://www.digitaltruth.com/techdata/sepia.php
http://www.jackspcs.com/tct.htm
http://www.jackspcs.com/tpt.htm

Note: Thiourea is Thiocarbamide.

Hi Patricia,
You seem to understand the directions well enough and George's references are right on.

The Thiocarbamide powder is mixed with a liter of water to make the stock. You add the control liquid to the stock vary the tone from yellow brown (less control liquid) to dark brown (more). The sepia to middle brown that you mention can be had by adding 100 to 150ml of the control to 1 liter of toner stock.

If you want to try different solution to control liquid mixes, you'll have to either use portions of the stock or add the control liquid to the mix slowly to find the tone you want. Once mixed it doesn't keep.

A big word of caution is needed for the bleach solution that Tetenal includes in their Triponaltoner. They recommend a 1+3 dilution. I have found this very strong, very fast acting and dangerous for delicate highlights in prints. I dilute it 1+9 if I want to tone all the way down to the shadows and 1+19 if I want even more control to partially tone. And even then you'll want to start with your highlights a bit heavier than normal (i.e. overprint slightly or at a softer grade to make up for the highlights that you'll lose to the bleach).
Best regards,
James

Thanks James and George for your quick response on this head-scratcher - my confusion arose because I couldn't believe they'd only supply one hit of Thiourea in the kit yet supply enough of the other chemicals to cover several other sessions - totally illogical, madly irritating and off-puttingly mean of them - they obviously don't want me to buy anymore of their products!! I spoke to my retailer and they can supply all of the chemicals and in any quantities I need in the future, Lesson learnt. And thanks for the info on their bleach James - I'm sure thats saved me a few tantrums on the weekend!
Patricia