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© Lloyd Godman

Toning of Black & White Prints

Before engaging in toning, it can not be stressed enough that the prints to be toned should be properly fixed and washed. The only exception for toning of prints that have been improperly processed might be a conceptual or aesthetic consideration, and to achieve this in a convincing manner usually requires a high degree of control from many past experiments. While toning Varies from protective coatings that have little colouration of the image, subtle colour variations, right through to bold colour shifts, it should be remembered (with a few exceptions) that toning can not make a good print out of a bad image.

Safety Information
It is recommended that for safety the following steps be followed.

The use of protective rubber gloves are recommend when handling and using these chemicals  Any spillage should be washed away promptly with plenty of water The area used for toning should be well ventilated

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Print toners are chemical solutions most commonly used to alter the hue of the developed image on black-and-white photographic papers. However they can also be used for archival permanence. The degree of tint a toner produces depends on the basic image tone of the enlarging paper, the length of time the paper is immersed in toning solution, and the dilution of the toner. The toning process involves the conversion of black silver within the print to another metallic chemical compound. Toning is achieved in regular light and can be done in any room where there is running water. Many hand colorists like to tone before coloring a photograph. Toning often produces a warm effect on the image and enhances the coloring. It is not required to tone a photograph before coloring, but try experimenting coloring a print with or without toner. There are a few manufacturers that make toners, such as Kodak, Edwal, Berg, and FotoSpeed. Toners come in various tints, such as sepia, selenium and blue and may come in liquid or powder form. Liquid toners are much easier to use, though they are more costly. You can buy toners at most camera stores. Hints

1. Always allow the prints to be fully immersed in the toning solution.

   Make sure that there is continuous agitation to keep the solution moving across the print. You can achieve this by gently rocking the tray back and forth.

   Take meticulous care when toning and do not leave solutions in trays for long periods. Oxidization will leave chemical residues that can contaminate solutions and result in poor quality prints.

   Always rinse prints between toners and wash thoroughly on completion.

   Prints should be thoroughly re-wetted if they have been dried, before they are toned. Uneven results can occur if the print is dry when it enters the toner.

2. Commercial black and white prints produced through the RA4 color process will not tone as they are silver less.
   

REMEMBER YOU ARE USING CORROSIVE CHEMICALS AND YOU SHOULD NEVER PLACE YOUR HANDS DIRECTLY INTO THE TONING SOLUTIONS WHEN HANDLING PRINTS IN TRAYS.

To Avoid Potential Problems:

1) Never inhale fumes from bottles.
2) Wear an apron or old clothes, as the solutions will stain your clothes if spillage occurs.
3) Never immerse unprotected hands in working solutions.
4) Keep children away from the room you are toning in and make sure to store the bottles in a safe cool dark place.
5) Work in a well ventilated room.
6) If toning in the kitchen, thoroughly wash down the counters with an anti-bacterial soap.
7) Never eat, drink or smoke while toning.