The DARKROOM COOKBOOK, Third Edition

TONER TEST STRIPS
Toning Prints 111
Each toner/variation responds differently to different paper and developer combinations. For
that reason, it is a good idea to make a swatch book for your toning experiments. This can be
done using reject prints cut into strips. Ideally the print should be one that almost succeeded
or perhaps a perfect print that has been damaged at some point. In any event they should be
neither too dark nor too light and contain a full range of tones. Fix and wash these prints as
you would any other and save them to make toner test strips.
To make toner test strips:
1. Cut the print into eight strips. The strips can be horizontal or vertical sections, whichever direction
contains the most information.
2. One strip is not toned but held aside for reference.
3. The second is toned for fi fteen seconds, the third for thirty seconds, the fourth for one minute,
the fi fth for two minutes, the sixth for four minutes, the seventh for eight minutes, and the last
for sixteen minutes. If the published formula for the toner calls for a longer initial time than sixteen
minutes adjust the test accordingly.
4. Write on the back of each strip the toner and the time. Keep them in a swatch book for reference.
It is not necessary to make test strips with toners that are meant to work to completion,
such as bleach and redevelop toners (for example, hypo-alum, sepia, etc.), as partial toning
will result in an unstable fi nal print. However, it may be desirable to tone a single strip of a
correctly exposed and developed print and keep it among the toning swatches.
TYPES OF TONERS
There are two basic methods for toning prints. The fi rst is by direct toning without the use of
bleach and the second is by conversion, known as bleach-and-redeveloping.
Direct Toners
There are four categories of direct toners.
1. Those which bond an inorganic compound directly to the silver in the image, in effect coating it
(Formulas: Toners: Kodak GP-1 and GP-2 Gold Protective Solution and Nelson Gold Toner).
2. Those that convert the silver image into silver selenide (Formulas: Toners: Dassonville T-55
Direct Selenium Toner).
3. Those that replace the silver with another metal. The compounds produced are usually either
ferricyanide (Formulas: Toners: Copper Toner, Dassonville T-5 Copper Toner) or iron (Formulas:
Blue Toners: Ansco 241 Iron Blue Toner). These are also known as replacement toners.
4. Organic dye toners, which penetrate the emulsion and tint the white portions of the paper as well.
Bleach-and-Redevelopment Toners
Bleach-and-redevelopment (B&R) toners bleach the silver to a pale color and then redevelop
it to a new color. Most two-bath B&R toners are of the warm-tone sepia/sulfi de-type