I seem to remember reading a David Vestal article in which he describes combining his selenium toner in the same tray with his wash-aid. Am I nuts? I can't find the article and a couple of friends say the idea won't fly.

I'd like to combine them; can I (with good results)? For what it's worth, I'd be using Kodak selenium toner and Ilford Universal Wash-Aid, the paper being either Ilford MG IV RC or Kodak Polymax II RC.

-- Paul Arnold (osprey@bmt.net), August 22, 2000

Answers

My experience tells me that there are two schools of thought regarding this practice. Some printers recommend combining hypo clearing agent with selenium toner. Of course, it is still advisable to bathe the prints in a tray of hypo clearing agent after toning and prior to washing as well. The second school of thought does not add the hypo clearing agent to the toner. The reason for this is the hypo clearing agent will expire long before the selenium. By not including the hypo clearing agent with the selenium, a printer need not discard selenium toner which is still perfectly usable. My personal method is the latter. I hope this helps.

Tom Schumacher

-- Tom Schumacher (tlschuma@orotech.net), August 22, 2000.

The instructions on Kodak's selenium toner indicate that it can be mixed with a hypo-clearing agent (wash aid). The instructions also indicate appropriate washing times for RC and fiber papers.

-- Christopher Hargens (ldmr@cruzio.com), August 22, 2000.

I forgot to add that David Vestal does mention combining his selenium toner in the same tray with his wash-aid in his book The Art of Black- and-White Enlarging.

-- Christopher Hargens (ldmr@cruzio.com), August 22, 2000.

It works, but in my experience with Ilford MGWT complete toning takes about twice as long than if the toner is mixed with plain water.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), August 23, 2000.

Forgot something; there's no need at all for a wash aid with RC paper.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), August 23, 2000.

My thoughts exactly about the wash aid for RC papers. I did a little experiment a while back with Ilford MG RC. I toned one half of the print in 20:1 selenium and it took 15 minutes to observe any darkening of the tones. I now use 4:1 and tone for 5-7 miuntes and only use FB.

-- Gene Crumpler (nikonguy@worldnet.att.net), August 23, 2000.