chriwurz
Hello,
I recently tried out Kentmere Warmtone Fine Grain – a truly fine paper – developed in Fomatol PW Warmtone developer or N113. However, I was very surprised and disappointed when, during selenium toner (Kodak RST), I found that this paper showed absolutely no reaction (in terms of colour change), not even at a ratio of 1:3 and after about 10 minutes in the selenium bath. Has anyone else had this experience, or can anyone explain why? I thought I’d read something about ‘good toning properties’ somewhere.
Best regards,
Christian
zensusa
Hello Christian,
Here are a few general tips on selenium toner; perhaps they’ll be of some help to you.
The way selenium toner works allows, first and foremost, for a targeted increase in density in the shadow areas. In this process, the high silver densities are altered first. This process is completely independent of the dilution and temperature of the toner.
Similarly, some people use selenium toner to improve archival stability, although gold and sulphur toners, as well as Sistan, are considerably more effective for this purpose.
As for your surprise and disappointment regarding the change in colour tone ( ..no reaction...) on the Kentmere Warton paper, I can say the following:
Image tone changes during selenium toner depend first and foremost on the paper’s emulsion (warm-tone chlorobromide silver emulsion or neutral/cool-tone bromide silver emulsion), as well as the additives. The developer used also plays a role that should not be underestimated.
All papers can be altered using selenium toner!
Cool-tone/neutral-tone papers tone much more slowly than warm-tone papers, and the change in image tone is usually very subtle.
This remains true even with rich toners and long toning times. Differences in the change are usually only noticeable when directly compared with an untreated print.
Genuine warm-tone papers, on the other hand, tone very quickly with a distinct change in image tone, even with thinner toners!
As far as I know, Kentmere fine print VC-WT paper is actually a neutral-tone paper (bromide silver paper) with a coloured base (I believe Kentmere used to call the shade ‘Amber’); so it is not a chlorobromide silver paper like the, as one must now unfortunately say, legendary Forte Polywarmton paper. Accordingly, the Kentmere warm-tone paper does not react to selenium toner like a genuine warm-tone paper, but only like a cool-tone paper, i.e. with a mixed response; – but it does react!
I hope this information has been of some help to you.
Below is the official information from Kentmere regarding the general selenium toning capability of Kentmere papers:
Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner
Creatively, low-key subjects demanding the most intense blacks, with mid-tones taking on a purple-brown hue, are best suited to, for example, pictorial landscapes. The most intense results are achieved with Kentona paper; superb results can be achieved by slightly over-printing, toning, then lightly bleaching back the selected highlights.
Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner is the most practical and safe way to carry out this process. Due to the toxicity of the raw materials, we do not recommend making this product from the base chemicals.
Use as a single-bath toner at dilutions of 1 part toner to 3–19 parts water.
Selenium toning is one of the most universally accepted methods for improving print permanence. Selenium toner used at a dilution of 1:20 or greater can improve image permanence without significantly altering the image colour.
Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner is compatible with all Kentmere papers; results will vary depending on the emulsion type.
Selenium toner initially cools the image tone slightly, then progresses to a subtle purple tone; longer toning times (up to 20 minutes) can increase the purple-brown tone. The chloro-bromide type emulsions, Kentona and Art Classic, will show a more significant shift in image colour towards purple-brown.
Best regards
Lothar
SamuliSchielke
Try Kentona – it produces excellent results. With warm-tone development, a bit of bleaching and a 1:10 dilution of toner, you can even get red tones out of the paper.
chriwurz
Hello Lothar, Samuli,
Thank you very much for your comments – they’ve been a great help.
Best regards,
Christian
