Does anyone know a failsafe method of repeating results obtained from both sepia and selenium toning? I recently processed a standard black and white from Tmax 800. Selenium Toned then Sepia toned. The result was an amazing colour - the closest I can describe it is...Tan... I suppose. Problem. I cannot duplicate this colour. I have ruled out contamination of toners baths developers etc etc. Even the paper is identical. (fibre based medium contrast)

Is it possible to repeat?

Thanqs

-- Huw Crosby (crosby@magna.com.au), October 11, 1999

Answers

I have been doing b/w photography in all phases and still do not know any thing that is "failsafe", all I can tell you is keep notes and hope it works the same way twice. Pat

-- pat j. krentz (krentz@cci-29palms.com), October 11, 1999.

Huw: I have a love/hate relationship with toning. As much as I try to eliminate the variables, I still have trouble getting exactly the same results every time. Just when I think I have something good going the unexpected happens! Go figure.

-- Joe Miller (Jmmiller@poka.com), October 11, 1999.

As much as I love certain toners such as Nelson Gold and split-toned sepia, I have abandoned them in favor of straight selenium, which is, at least, entirely repeatable.

http://www.ravenvision.com/rvapeter.htm

-- Peter Hughes (leonine@redshift.com), October 12, 1999.

The problem is that there are too many variables. The bleach for the sepia toner becomes weaker as you use it, as does the toning solution. So it is virtually impossible to obtain precise repeatability. The same is true to a lesser extent with selenium. The more processes you put a print through, the greater the difficulty you will have in reproducing the effect you obtain.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edbuffaloe@unblinkingeye.com), October 12, 1999.

A very interesting account of all kinds of split- and dual-toning procedures is given in Tim Rudman's "The Photographer's Master Printing Course" which you will find, e.g., on Amazon.com.

-- Thomas Wollstein (thomas_wollstein@web.de), October 21, 1999.

There are also many fine examples, but little explanation, of multiple toning in "Beyond Monochrome: a fine art printing workshop" by Tony Worobiec and Ray Spence.

-- Alan Gibson (Alan.Gibson@technologist.com), October 21, 1999.