I'm selenium toning prints at 1:30 to stabilize the image only, without any tone change. How long is the solution viable at this dilution when kept in an air and light tight containerand used??

-- Debbie Hilaire (dhilaire@serix.com), March 22, 1999

Answers

As long as it still gives a tone it is OK. It does get a bit sludgy after a while, so you might want to filter it. I am still on a stock bottle of selenium that is over 15 years old. It works fine.

-- Tony Brent (ajbrent@mich.com), March 22, 1999.

If you use selenium at 1:30, another factor (which is limiting for me) is the toner capacity. When mix 1:30 i usually tone 5-10 24x30 prints or equivalent area of larger formats in a single toning session and then discard the solution. E.

-- Evgeni Poptoshev (evgeni.poptoshev@surfchem.kth.se), April 30, 1999.

I would say short. Selenium indeed develops sludge after some time. I can't follow the reasoning to combine a wish to preserve your images for a long time (which suggests that you value them a lot) with a wish to be economic with your dilution of Se-toner. If your prints are that valuable, don't risk a bath in sludgy Se.

-- Lot (lotw@wxs.nl), May 01, 1999.