Metallic toning of B&W photographs

Gold Toner

Gold chloride toners can give the print an even more protective coating than sepia or selenium. Gold chloride is a bright yellow crystalline compound that contains 50% gold and is expensive, it can be purchased as a crystal or I have even had it reconstituted from native gold. For toning purposes it can be purchased as a liquid ready mixed. There are a number of recipes that produce prints from rich red/ browns to dark blue.

Kodak GP-1 Protective solution

Gold toner Sol A
Initially a gold chloride stock solution can be made by dissolving 1grm of gold chloride in 100ml of water.

Water 750ml
Gold Chloride solution (1% solution) 10mls
Sodium thiocyanate (or potassium thiocyanate)
10grams Water to make 1liter

Mixing
Add the gold chloride 1% stock solution to 750ml of water and set aside. In a separate container dissolve the thiocyanate in 125ml of water and then slowly add it to the gold chloride solution stirring rapidly during the process.

Toning Method
Make sure the print to be toned is well washed before soaking it in the working solution for 10mins at 20 degrees C or until there is a very slight blue black change in tone. To increase the intensity of the blue, the toning time can be extended up to 20mins As the toner works best when used immediately, and about thirty 8x10 prints can be toned per gallon, it is best to tone prints in suitable batches to maximize this expensive process.

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