Re: Van Dyke Toning

Smieglitz@aol.com
Sun, 29 Jun 1997 10:34:09 -0400 (EDT)

In a message dated 06/29/97 1:20:52 AM, you wrote:

<<Van Dyke Brown prints can be toned with gold using a formula identical
to that used for salt prints or POP ... <snip> I believe that
selenium toners would not work and might even bleach a VDB print.

Bob Schramm
>>

Very true! I tried doing VDB with selenium a few months ago and bleaching
was severe. I contacted Great Yellow Father in Rochester and was informed
that Rapid Selenium Toner (RST) concentrate was between 25-30% ammonium
thiosulphate a.k.a. rapid fixer. No wonder it bleaches VDB!

But this gave me an idea that perhaps the chemist types on the board would
have some insight into. Would it be possible to dilute RST to a degree that
would fix and tone VDB simultaneously? If RST was mixed with Hypo clearing
Agent (HCA) and diluted sufficiently, maybe a single solution
fix/tone/clearing bath for VDB? EK RST+HCA on VDB. Hmmm.

Do any other manufacturers make selenium toners with a higher proportion of
selenium to hypo? Anyone know?

Joe