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I use fiber based variable contrast paper. Can you suggest some toners, and how to use them.
thanks:}

i like selenium. a bit ugly to work with though. make sure you're well ventilated.

print your fiber as you noramlly would. after the wash, put it in a selenium bath for 2-5 minutes depending on how much tone you want. then wash it again for 20-30 minutes. i usually only tone one at a time and i keep the bath agitated the entire time. the less time, the more subtle the tone is.

8)
sean

also be sure to use clean tongs dedicated to specific toner. the print can get stains if the tongs are contaminated.

You can tone for permanence and for effect. Selenium is by far the most popular toner, it enhances the print and provides an additional degree of protection. Gold toner, while expensive aids permanence the most (it does not turn the print gold btw). There are many special purpose toners for extreme colors like sepia, blue etc. All of the toners are pretty easy to use, just follow the directions on the package. You can also tone with coffee or tea.
Regards,
Bruce

I recently began experimenting with coffee toning prints and I'm amazed and delighted with the results. I used Ilford Warm Tone Fibre Based paper and kept them in a bath of strong coffee (grounds included) for one hour, then washed them thoroughly for 15 minutes.

I"m new to B&W photo and darkrooms...

So you can't tone RC paper?

Thanks.

Yes you can tone RC papers as well (there are some examples in my portfolio). In fact some manufacturers claim that their toners actually give better results with RC papers than with fibre. For coffee or tea toning, on the other hand, you might find RC less suitable than FB. Just experiment and see what you like.

Thanks, Matej
I will try it soon. Can you tone RC with selenium as well? And while I'm at it, what's split toning?

Nice photos, BTW.

I haven't worked with selenium yet but I haven't heard that using it with RC should be a problem.
Split toning is when you apply two toners in sequence. It's explained here http://www.fotospeed.com/toner_tips.htm

You can tone RC with selenium.
There are vaious ratios of selenium toner, each will effect the paper in various ways. This is true for either fiber or RC.
Ilford papers are known to be resisted to bleaching and toning techniques. That does not mean it won't happen, just that it takes longer and stronger ratios.

Also, selenium is not a one shot toner, it can be used over and over. In fact it should be as it is not good to just dump it back into the environment until it is exhausted.

Copper , Iron and the active portion for sepia cannot be re-used; it can be stored for a day or so, but after that it is not effective; however the bleach portion certainly can be re-used

I would recommend that you look at Tim Rudman"s book on Toning. It is very detailed and specific to every toner you can think of.

Tea and coffee as well as the traditional copper and iron are not archival toners.

Split toning is the use of various toners on the same print. One does not allow the toner to work until completion. Pull and wash then go to the next chemcial. You must wash carefuuly after each type used . I.E. Selenium first will effect the shadow areas the gold will effect the highlights. Again, various formuala and ratios will give different results.
The type of developer and fixer will effect the outcome of the toner, especially when toning for a color shift .

In fact when toning for either archival purposes or color shift it is critcal to have good technique with your printing and washing as any flaw will quickly appear.

Toning is easy , more involved to discuss with the printed word. Just be sure you wear gloves as these chemcials are very toxic, have good ventialtion; wash the prints well. Keep trays specifically for each type and have fun, Keep carefully notes when you begin to experiment with different papers, developers, etc. as it is easy to forget what was what.

p.s.
If you are toning for archival reasons , IPI gives the following order of effectiveness:
polysulphides
selenium
gold
platinum

In addition for archival purposes one should tone to completion , which means at least 8 minutes for a high dilution ratio (1 :20)and at least 3minutes for a ratio of 1:9.
With most papers the lower ratio will give a color shift which you may find welcome or not welcome.
Some papers resist a color shift even with a lower ratio of selenium These are cold tone papers and their grain pattern is what creates that ability, just as warm tone papers with their grain sturcture shifts easily.

Very Informative, Thank you everyone.
Looking forward to more experimentation in the darkroom.

Omar

Just a note on safety.

If you're going to use selenium toner, make sure you get a liquid concentrate (like Kodak Rapid Selenium Toner) - if you use it as directed it is perfectly safe.

Be extremely carefull if you mix it up from a powder (and definately DO NOT try making it up from raw chemicals). Breathing in selenium dust is a VERY BAD THING.

It probably been said already but its so important i'll say it again for those not looking at earlier posts washing is the most imporatant part b4 u tone.

fixer messes with toner so be sure to wash it extra if u plan to tone it.

also the easiest toner to use and still fun to play with is viradon just one bath then wash after.

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