Toning VC papers

Matt5791

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On reading a chapter in Adams' book "The Print" I notice that he finds VC papers do not tone well [in selenium] because they have more than one emulsion and the selenium affects them differently.

To what extent do people find this applies today? and any suggestions for rich almost purple blacks?

Thanks for any help,
Matt
 

titrisol

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Patterson used to make a great selenium toner that gave rich purple blacks in AGFA MCC.

Ilford cooltone and normal papers are very hard to tone, while the warmtone tones beautifully.
 

reellis67

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You can get tone with the neutral MBIV paper, but it is more subdued than other papers, which is not necessarily a bad thing. I keep a sample of each paper/developer/toner I have tried printed mostly with the same image so that I can compare them to get the result I want for any given print. I just toned a print for my wife on MGIV, fully bleached and toned in Kodak Sepia and it turned out really nice with a warm tone that was not overly done for the subject - a perfect example of matching materials to the print. I'd post a scan, but its just out of the wash.

- Randy
 

reellis67

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One other thought. If you want rich purple blacks, try using strong, hot selenium rather than the standard 1:9 at room temp. Just do it outside because it can get pretty funky when you heat up a strong blend like that.

- Randy
 

Donald Miller

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It depends on the paper. The Oriental and Forte papers tone very well in selenium.
 

titrisol

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Thta is a good point, some people use those spaguetti containers (long glass ones) to keep their toner and tone the prints with the lid on.
I used to tone to completion in a double strength solution at room temp, if time is not a big concern it may take 15-20 minutes some times.
The "funky" smell is mostly ammonia.

reellis67 said:
One other thought. If you want rich purple blacks, try using strong, hot selenium rather than the standard 1:9 at room temp. Just do it outside because it can get pretty funky when you heat up a strong blend like that.

- Randy
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