Hello,

I would like to make prints with blue toning as shown in the example:

http://home.tvd.be/ws35654/epernay.htm

The example was simulated in Photoshop but i'd like to know how to do it in the darkroom. Thanks, Marc.

-- Marc Leest (mmm@n2photography.com), September 17, 2000

Answers

Blue tones can be obtained with a thiocyanate-based gold toner and chloride papers such as Agfa Portriga, Agfa Insignia, or Ilford Multigrade Warm Tone. Formulas are at http://unblinkingeye.com/Articles/Developers/Formulas/formulas.htm. I recommend DuPont 6T for ease of use. Bryant Laboratory has the best prices on gold chloride at http://www.sirius.com/~bry_lab/index.htm. Heat the toning solution to 100 degrees and tone for 5 to 20 minutes. For subtle blues you can mix up the thiocyanate and add 10ml of a 1 percent solution of gold chloride. Add another 10 ml for each print you plan to tone. This makes the expensive gold chloride last longer. You can get strong blue tones with an iron toner, but it is not archival.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edbuffaloe@unblinkingeye.com), September 17, 2000.

What can happen with a photo that is toned in iron toner? Rust? :-)

-- Patric (jenspatric@mail.bip.net), September 17, 2000.

...exactly!

-- Doremus Scudder (ScudderLandreth@compuserve.com), September 18, 2000.

Greetings,

While I'd be more inclined to go the traditional route of toning a B&W print as has been suggested, another possibility is print the negative on color paper and develop it in color chemistry (RA-4.) You would be best to use a blank color negative for the necessary orange mask then you could easily dial in filtration to get any tone/color you wanted.

Regards,

-- Pete Caluori (pcaluori@hotmail.com), September 19, 2000.