| Toning a print sepia (brown) gives it a warmer appearance, and can also be used to give an impression of age. Sepia toners usually produce silver sulphide which makes prints more stable.
Heres How:
1. Always read the manufacturers instructions with any photographic chemicals you buy. Most sepia toners work in the way described below, but others do not. Use gloves or tongs.
2. Start with a black and white print that has been given slightly more than normal exposure and has been fully washed. It can be wet or dry
3. Immerse this in the first solution (bleach), which is usually yellow. For full toning agitate until the print has lost all black and is a pale brown colour.
4. Rinse the print in running water until all traces of yellow from the bleach have gone.
5. Immerse in the second solution (toner) and the print will rapidly darken. Agitate until there is no further change in colour - usually from 2-5 minutes.
6. Wash the print for 2-3 minutes for RC paper and 30-60 minutes for FB paper.
7. Give a final rinse - 1 minute - in a dilute solution of a photographic wetting agent.
8. Dry as normal for the paper type
Tips:
- Some sepia toners give offensive smelling and toxic fumes, particularly if you make your own using formulae in books. If using these, work out of doors.
- Some commercial toners come with an additive that can be used to produce different brown tones.
- Partial toning is often more effective - you may need to dilute the bleach to control it. Full sepia toning is useful for prints that are to be hand coloured.
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