Viradon Failure

[gbenaim]

Hi All,

I recently tried to tone some prints w viradon new, and noticed that there was a yellow sediment at the bottom of the concentrate bottle, and the liquid was much clearer. I'm guessing the sulphur solution separated, and am wondering if anyone has experienced anything like this (I've had the stuff for 2-3 years) and whether there's a safe and easy way to return the sediment into solution. Thanks.

 

[Mark Layne]

Ignore it -it's irrelevant. You will find sediment forming at high dilutions also, which is how Viradon works best
Mark

 

[gbenaim]

Ignore it -it's irrelevant. You will find sediment forming at high dilutions also, which is how Viradon works best
Mark

Mark,

I'm used to sediment in working solution, I'm talking about the concentrate separating into a clear liquid and a yellow solid at the bottom. I went and got a new bottle anyway, just wanted to know if I could salvage the old one. BTW, how do you get browner, as opposed to reddish brown, tones out of viradon? I use Ilford and Kentmere, and can only get a good brown if I first tone in selenium. I tried bleaching partially, but got too orangy a tone. Greater or lesser dilutions? Thanks.

 

[Gerald Koch]

Hi All,

I recently tried to tone some prints w viradon new, and noticed that there was a yellow sediment at the bottom of the concentrate bottle, and the liquid was much clearer.

When you say clearer you mean colorless or becoming less colored?

Whether the concentrate is still useable depends on how much sediment has been produced and how much color has been lost.

 

[Mark Layne]

Mark,

I'm used to sediment in working solution, I'm talking about the concentrate separating into a clear liquid and a yellow solid at the bottom. I went and got a new bottle anyway, just wanted to know if I could salvage the old one. BTW, how do you get browner, as opposed to reddish brown, tones out of viradon? I use Ilford and Kentmere, and can only get a good brown if I first tone in selenium. I tried bleaching partially, but got too orangy a tone. Greater or lesser dilutions? Thanks.

With Viradon the paper really determines what you can end up with. I tend to use very dilute soln and only tone partially. I have got nice dark browns on Kentmere Bromide and Agfa MCC. Kentona and Ilford WT will tone rapidly but to much redder browns.
Using selenium first is really very similar to using the old Polytoner which had selenium content. I have never really liked the colours I get with Polytoner.
I suspect that Polywarmtone might give nice browns with light toning, but remember that Viradon will keep on toning in the wash unless you use a sulphite stop bath.
Mark