Photographs by Lloyd Godman
Baxter : 
The Otago Worlds

 
  • Metallic toning of  B&W photographs

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    Print Contrast
    The toner will also affect the contrast of the print. These affects can be stated simply that the sepia formulas of sulfide and hypo alum and Nelsons Gold tend to reduce contrast, while blue gold and selenium increase contrast slightly.

    Toner Formulas
    Some toners can be purchased commercially ready mixed, but they are not too difficult to mix up your self and some recipes and characteristics are listed further on. 

    Preserving Toners 

    Sepia toners


     
    There are various sepia recipes that can be mixed from scratch to give a range of results, or purchased as a commercial product.  These toners create an image that is apparently more permanent than the untreated silver image. The silver image has tendency to break down into silver sulphide but it does so over a long time and in an uncontrolled manner, the sepia process advances this process converting the image completely to silver sulphide. The final image colour  depends chiefly on the grain structure of the original print, and on details of exposure and development. Remember an over exposed and under developed print will never tone well and it is a process to be used on technically excellent prints.
     

    Method 
    The first part of the process is to bleach the existing sliver 
     Image. 
     

    Step 1
    Place the image in a bath of the bleach solution keeping the solution moving across the surface, until the image bleaches and the black image changes to a very light brown colour. This could take from 1-2mins, and depends upon a range of factors, which includes the freshness of the chemical. The chemical can be used repeatedly as long as it continues to bleach. An increase in the concentration of bromide tends to produce images with a more yellow tone.
    Bleach Recipe
    Solution A
    Water at 52degrees C    750ml
    Potassium fericyanide……..50grms
    Potassium bromide………….10 grams
    Sodium Carbonate, monohydrated 20 grams

    Water to make ………………..1,000ml
     

    Step 2
    Wash the print in water for at least 10-15min which will remove the overall yellow staining leaving a faint buff image on a white background. 

    Step3
    Place the paper in the second solution until the image is fully redeveloped or darkened which should take about 1min. Keep the solution moving over the surface of the print during this time. 

    Solution B
    Sodium sulphide, anhydrous…………….20ml
    Water to make ……………………………..500ml

    Step 4
    Wash the print for 30mins 

    It is wise to use plastic trays for the bleaching bath as metal can cause blue staining, also be aware that solution B will deteriorate much quicker than solution A
     
     
     

     

     
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