marga
Hello everyone,
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A few months ago, I started developing my own negatives. As I didn’t initially take into account all the necessary steps to ensure the longest possible shelf life (two fixers, a HypoClear bath, etc.), I’d like to know: Is it possible to ‘retreat’ the negatives developed about six months ago, i.e. rinse them again, bathe them in a HypoClear bath, or perhaps even use a selenium toner? Will this still have the desired effect, or could it actually cause any damage?
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Many thanks in advance for your replies!
Marga
piu58
After six months, it’s certainly still possible. You shouldn’t wait too long before rinsing it thoroughly, otherwise irreversible chemical processes (formation of Ag₂S) will have taken place. Nevertheless, it’s better to rinse it late than not at all.
You can still fire it even years later.
Commander8x
Are you absolutely sure you want to retouch the negatives?
To me, ‘Selentoner’ sounds more like a developer (for positives).
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Negatives are actually only retouched (assuming they’ve been processed correctly) if you want to make them darker (because they’re too light) or lighter (because of their high density).
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Regards, Matthias
Gast
Are you absolutely sure you want to retouch the negatives?
To me, ‘Selentoner’ sounds more like it’s for prints (positives).
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Negatives are actually only retouched (assuming they’ve been processed correctly) if you want to make them darker (because they’re too light) or lighter (because of their high density).
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Regards, Matthias
Negatives can also be intensified with selenium toner.
See Ansel Adams’ book “The Negative” or also here:
http://www.ferguson-photo-design.com/alternative/tutorial-a14.php
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Regards
Wolfgang
sputnik
Exactly. And there was no mention of amplification in the original post.
It’s simply a question of archival stability.
I’d steer well clear of the Selentoner.
Bonderer
Rinsing is certainly possible.
Hypo Clear Bath is a rinsing aid, more suitable for baryta paper than for film.
Opinions differ on stabilisation and archival stability.
In the English-speaking world, selenium baths are generally used—not for toning, although that is of course possible, but to improve archival stability, acting as a silver stabiliser. Toner and archiving require different dilutions.
In Old Europe, people tend to use AGFA Sistan for the same purpose – which also acts as a wetting agent – or its successor products.
Ultimately, however, the choice is entirely up to the individual. There is no absolute truth here.
ThomasPauly
Provided the film was processed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, further treatment is probably not recommended in the interests of archival stability. The risks associated with handling the film (damage to the emulsion layer, dust accumulation) are likely to be disproportionate to any hypothetical improvement in durability.
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In my family archive, I have inherited black and white negatives dating back to the early 1950s. Many were developed by a photographic retailer who (hopefully) worked to the highest standards, but (presumably) without resorting to makeshift solutions for fixing and washing. I have not yet detected any damage. The material was stored under normal domestic conditions.
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Correcting failed negatives (densifying, reducing) or re-fixing and/or re-washing carelessly processed films is, of course, a different matter.
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Regards
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tepe
Commander8x
Negatives can also be enhanced using selenium toner.
Yes, I know that too.
What I actually meant to say was: a properly exposed and processed negative doesn’t need any further processing.
marga
It was clear to me that the selenium toner would then enhance the negative.
My main concern was to find out whether negatives that have already been processed can – or indeed should – be ‘re-wet’ at a later stage.
So, with that in mind, thank you very much for your numerous and helpful replies!
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Marga
