Is sellenium toning solely for print longevity or does it produce a particular look and color tone to B&W prints? Thanks in advance.

-- Greg Augustine (wca@idt.net), May 23, 1999

Answers

I think it depends on the dilution of toner used, and also the paper. I've noticed a very slight metallic blue tone in some of my fiber prints toned in strong sellenium solutions, but usually just a slight cooling effect with most papers and normal dilutions of toner. Regardless, the results are quite subtle with sellenium as opposed to sepia or similar toners.

"Selenium toning causes a subtle change to a cool color, and enhances the archival permancence of the print. Then selenium toner protects the emulsion from attack by certain atmospheric contaminants, and also causes some deepening of the black and very dark grey values."

-Ansel Adams, "The Print", pg. 61.

-- Paul Klingaman (Paul.Klingaman@seagatesoftware.com), May 24, 1999.

Selenium toning is capable of giving a wide range of tones depending upon the paper emulsion (bromide, chloro-bromide, bromo-chloride), whether the paper is a graded type or multi-contrast, the toner dilution, and how long the paper is left in the toner. All of the factors are interactive, and the results can range from cool blue- purple to red. Some papers "split tone" where the mid to dark greys turn a slight red-brown while the rest of the print turns cool purple- blue.

To give you and idea of the papers and reactions: bromide papers will turn the cool purple-blue with a 1:20 dilution and about 10 minutes in the toner, while chloro-bromide (warm tone) papers turn red-brown with a 1:5 dilution and about 5 minutes in the toner.

-- steve (swines@egginc.com), May 25, 1999.