Toning withe berg copper toner

[Luseboy]

So I have recently made my own darkroom, and Its come to the point where id like to try some toning. I am most likely going to get some berg copper toner from calumet, but im wondering what the process of toning entails? how do you do it? from what i understand, you of course expose the paper under the enlarger, then develop, stop, fix, wash, then tone, and wash again? or do you dry after the first wash, and go back and tone? Id love any advice, recommendations, and anything you have to say about toning. And a recommendation of which toner to buy would be a good thing too, i like the idea of the berg because it allows for toning at different intervals.
thanks,
Austin

 

[MattKing]

The berg copper toner is nice, but it functions more like a dye than other more traditional toners.

As with most toners, you can decide which is more convenient for you - either tone as part of your processing workflow (after wash) or dry your prints and then re-wet and tone and re-wash on a later day.

I prefer some of the more traditional toning processes (selenium, sepia, etc.) but the decision as to which you like most is incredibly subjective.

One thing though, toners like this do not add any archival protection.

If you can find a copy of Tim Rudman's Toning book, I would heartily recommend it.

As an aside, most of the threads that discuss toning are found either in the alternative processes forum or the Black and White film and paper forums, so if you are looking for more info, it would be good to look there.

Oh, and welcome to APUG

 

[clayne]

So I have recently made my own darkroom, and Its come to the point where id like to try some toning. I am most likely going to get some berg copper toner from calumet, but im wondering what the process of toning entails? how do you do it? from what i understand, you of course expose the paper under the enlarger, then develop, stop, fix, wash, then tone, and wash again? or do you dry after the first wash, and go back and tone? Id love any advice, recommendations, and anything you have to say about toning. And a recommendation of which toner to buy would be a good thing too, i like the idea of the berg because it allows for toning at different intervals.
thanks,
Austin

If you want to start experimenting with toning you should pick up a bottle of Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner and go from there. Copper toning is actually quite easy but not suitable for general toning use. Sure it's a fun toner to experiment with, but Selenium is equally fun and most importantly: more useful.