Wait... so selenium toning does not improve archival properties?

[darkroommike]

The other thing here, if you care enough about your images to take extra steps to preserve them, those extras, not even considering the archival or non archival properties of the toner, will prolong print life.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

So in my reading about selenium toning, I'm seeing things about how so-called "light" toning, traditionally done to improve image permanence, is not worth doing. But I'm unable to actually find any data or primary sources...

You can check Tim Rodman's toning book or various internet sources but, your assumption is correct, light sulphide toning does wonders for longevity; light selenium toning does not; on the other hand, full selenium toning works well. I can send you a free pdf on archival processing you email me at rwlambrec@gmail.com.

 

[LarsAC]

How long of sulphide toning is sufficient? Put some Fomatone for 20-30secs as it goes off too yellow otherwise. Would that work?

Lars

 

[Gerald C Koch]

I have said this before if you want archival permenance without a color change than just follow the washing times recommended. Prints that were properlt washed and never toned have lasted to over a hundred years. If you are worried of water use then use a HCA and do not over use you fixer, Easy peasy and one avoids all the hand wringing over whether this method or that is best.

 

[Photo Engineer]

Black and white printing existed before toners. Those prints still exist largely unchanged. The biggest change is in the paper.

PE

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

I only use Selenium for the colour shift and slight contrast increase, not for print longevity. HCA and a good wash in water is sufficient for longevity. Prints I made on fibre in 91 look great. I don't have anything older than that because I was new at it then!

 

[RalphLambrecht]

How long of sulphide toning is sufficient? Put some Fomatone for 20-30secs as it goes off too yellow otherwise. Would that work?

Lars

Yes, that would work. even brief sulphide toning does wonders!

 

[miha]

Black and white printing existed before toners. Those prints still exist largely unchanged. The biggest change is in the paper.

PE

For worse?

 

[Bill Burk]

How about the results from Jens Hallfeldt?

The prints at 26 years old all look "just fine" - in terms of longevity they all pass the test.

But the toned look better. The paper hasn't yellowed as much compared to the untoned.

We've been talking a lot about the damage to the silver image.

But what treatments work best to stave off paper yellowing?

 

[Bob Carnie]

From my understanding, the selenium couples with the silver and over time is a barrier to the silver... In my layman thinking on this its a good thing.

 

[Photo Engineer]

For worse?

My reply can be misunderstood. In old prints of about 100 years or so, the biggest change is the paper, not the image. Newer papers are, in fact, better from that standpoint.

PE

 

[miha]

My reply can be misunderstood. In old prints of about 100 years or so, the biggest change is the paper, not the image. Newer papers are, in fact, better from that standpoint.

PE

I see, thanks PE.

 

[Gary Gruber]

I realize that 40 years is not long enough to be considered archival, but I always selenium toned my prints (1:13) and they still look splendid after 40+ years.

I used a double fix bath, archival wash, and then residual fix test after each session to insure continuity.