What changes adding hypo clearing agent to selenium toner?

[pentaxuser]

In The Print, copyright 1983, in a footnote in the section on toning, Ansel Adams comments "...I have recently been advised by scientists at Eastman Kodak that there may be no advantage to mixing Hypo Clearing Agent, instead of plain water, with the selenium toner. However, since this was previously considered the preferred method, I am continuing with the use of Hypo Clearing Agent; I have used this system for many years with apparent success."

David

Doesn't that comment by AA neatly sums up the kind of inherently conservative stance that most still take on matters photographic, namely "It works for me so why risk a change"

This persists even if there is no evidence that the procedure is not the only way or in fact is unnecessary.

pentaxuser

 

[DREW WILEY]

Since I have been using TF4, and now TF5, Archival fixers for a long time, there is no reason for me to even have HCA around. Decades ago, when I did briefly use the AA method, there was no visual or permanence difference from what I have since obtained using KRST without it. This whole topic sounds to me more like a matter for archeologists to decide; it's rather arcane and outdated with respect to present options, if it ever was valid advice to begin with, which I doubt.

 

[BHuij]

It's a good point @pentaxuser - I have myself been simultaneously far too eager to spend time testing new whiz-bang products and techniques to see if they make a difference (I've been contemplating trying out FX-55 to see how it compares to Mytol, even though I'm already super happy with Mytol, and FX-55 is probably the least different possible developer from Mytol without actually just being Mytol).

And I also am still using sodium sulfite as a wash aid even though I standardized on TF-5 fixer years ago and theoretically don't need it. I could argue that I'm not buying HCA, and I always keep sodium sulfite on hand anyway because it's an ingredient in various developers that I use on a regular basis. But the truth is I'm just scared if I omit the wash aid step after toning, I might accidentally be setting my prints up to degrade sooner.

 

[DREW WILEY]

I don't get it. If there's a issue with your selenium toning, either the paper hasn't been properly fixed, or you haven't washed it long enough after toning. Why even bother paying extra for TF5 if you don't trust it to do what it claims to do - simplify the whole process. What is your basis for being so paranoid about all this?