Re: Toning w/TEA

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From: Christina Z. Anderson (zphoto@montana.net)
Date: 06/12/02-09:26:05 AM Z


Cut and snips from several emails:

>Patricia Reed asked:
>can this TEA TONING be done with prints on any kind of paper?
>ike RC or is this for fiber based or prints made on water color paper?

Yes--any kind, but the Rc looked veiled, as if the tea toning just lay muddy
on top. That is with Forte tho, so test. But any paper accepts the stain.
     It is a stain, really, not a tone. It stains the entire print evenly,
if you agitate tho the back of the print can get mottled and spotty. It
will give a certain look, certainly not like a nicely toned thiocarbamide or
sepia.

>Jonathan Bailey asked:
>In addition to Christina's and John's response - I would only add that
>Tetley Tea seems to be the preferred brand. Honest.... Both Sally Mann and
>Tom Baril are reputed prefer Tetley....
>Christina - any thoughts???
>cheers - JB
>
The tea brand I used was good ol' Lipton's; haven't tried Tetley. Now I'll
have to.

>Don Bryant asked:
> What papers tend to "tone" better with tea?
> Didn't you once reccomend Forte warm tone or am I remembering incorrectly?
> Thanks,
> Don Bryant
> P.S. If one is going to tone in a real toner that does affect the silver
> grains I assume the tea toning should be done afterwards. Also should
> adjustments be made for contrast and density of the pre-toned prints when
> using tea?
>
The papers I toned were Forte and then Arches watercolor paper (liquid
emulsion
stuff), just to get a handle on color comparison with black walnut. Both
toned, of course, highlights as well as shadows...I toned lith prints and
regular. I toned RC and fiber, and much preferred the look of fiber toning
than RC. RC looked muddy and plastic, but I didn't do enough to get a
handle on that and if it would always be that way. Actually, I have to say
that the tea toned ones were a nice bright punchy yellow brown. I have both
examples of black walnut and tea, mounted and scan-able, so if I get them
added to my website I'll tell the group. Both tonings have great
possibilities with the right images. I have not seen Mann's work for
comparison, nor have I toned other papers aside from Forte, nor have I
thought about tea toning after another toner...hmmmm...something else to
test? As far as adjustments for contrast and density, the toning will lower
highlight values but I did not myself adjust my prints for tea toning--just
used normal prints.
     I will say, tho, if you are looking for that old timey look and do
liquid emulsion, that toning watercolor paper is easy and it just eats up
the stain.
Chris


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