Using selenium toner solution as a residual silver idicator

[Tom Kershaw]

Tim Rudman suggests in 'The Photographer's Toning Book', that one can test for residual silver using a 10% selenium toner solution (Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner in my case).

After processing a sheet of ILFORD MGIV FB GLOSS through developer, stop, two fix baths (Champion Amfix 1+9, 90 seconds per bath), and a 45 minute wash, I let the paper air dry and the following day (yesterday), placed several drops across the 16x20" sheet. After a couple of hours I noted the patches of toner had turned red, however they did not turn red within a short period of time, e.g. 10 to 15 minutes.

Note: Because of the arrangement of my trays during the printing session, the print came out of the stop bath and briefly entered the second fixing bath before being transfered to the first, which may have an impact on fixer effectiveness.

Experiences using a selenium toner solution to test for residual silver?


Tom

 

[Ian Grant]

KRST will turn red anyway after time. I doubt the immersion in the 2nd Fix bathe first will have any impact at all on the fixer effectiveness.

Ian

 

[Marco B]

KRST will turn red anyway after time.

Like Ian said... I always find red stains of spilled droplets of toner when I selenium tone during a printing session. They appear within just a few hours. I doubt if they have anything to do with residual silver.

 

[Tom Kershaw]

KRST will turn red anyway after time. I doubt the immersion in the 2nd Fix bathe first will have any impact at all on the fixer effectiveness.

Ian

Ian,

This is why I was originally surprised at the suggestion of KRST to test for residual silver.

 

[Rich Ullsmith]

I think you first give it a test on a known non-fixed test strip, so you have some reaction and time frame to compare it against for any given paper. My understanding, anyways.

 

[dancqu]

Print Out?

Although it's been a while since I've done
any tests for residual silver I'm quite sure
tests done with sodium sulfide indicate
immediately.

Perhaps silver selenide is light sensitive.
If so exposure to light may cause print out;
the color you see.

I do know that print out is a characteristic
of the HT-2 test for residual hypo. Dan

 

[Ian Grant]

KRST just crystalises that colour.

Ian