Hi All,

When I sepia tone my prints with sodium sulphide they get a scum and sometimes a metallic sheen. This is difficult to remove and have tried gently washing and massaging the print in a 3% solution of acetic acid (stop bath). This is only moderately successful in cleaning the print. Anyone had this experience?? How to remove and have a clean print??

Cheers David in NSW, Australia

-- david strachan (strachan@cww.octec.org.au), September 04, 1999

Answers

I have never had the problem, though I have read about it. I believe this is due to excess polysulfide particles that adhere to the print surface. Kodak says to wipe them off with a piece of cotton, but you said that isn't working for you. Write to me and I will see what I can find in my library regarding sepia toning. Meanwhile, have you tried mixing both solutions with distilled water?

-- Ed Buffaloe (edbuffaloe@unblinkingeye.com), September 13, 1999.

I've had these stains now and then. For health and environmental reasons it is useful to rinse after sepia-toning with Natrium-sulfyte (10% solution I think). It's like hypo-clearing for fixer. It cleans your tray, photo and other stuff very effectively and does not leave odors too. Since I use this, I've have no stains anymore and the face of the print is better, just as polished as an untoned print.

-- Lot (lotw@wxs.nl), September 13, 1999.