I find that in toning some images using first selenium and then Agfa Viradon I get beautiful metallic tones. But, when using Viradon and then selenium, no change at all. So, i do it the first way, not the second. But, why doesn't it work each way?

-- Dan Smith (shooter@brigham.net), November 28, 1997

Answers

I have been trying various means of split toning for years, with varying success. You say that Viradon actually changes the look of your images? Causes them to split tone? I used to occasionally get split tones with Oriental Seagull, and especially with Portriga, and in those days I was mixing my Selenium toner with Kodak hypo clearing agent. I quit doing that because it smelled so bad, but recently someone gave me a recipe for split toning: mix selenium toner at about 1:10 or 1:15 and add 30ml of PermaWash and 20 grams of Kodalk. I haven't had a chance to test this--I have had problems in the past with PermaWash causing stains on my prints--but Viradon, PermaWash, and Kodak Hypo Clearing Agent all contain salts that are more alkaline than acetic, and their purpose is to help wash the fix out. Maybe the alkalinity has something to do with the split? Any further information you would care to share would be most welcome.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edbuffaloe@earthlink.net), January 20, 1999.