The DARKROOM COOKBOOK, Third Edition

152 THE DARKROOM COOKBOOK
Scully & Osterman on Gold Toning
Most people don’t realize how much depth of printing establishes the fi nal image tone
and are confused when they get weak tones from a toning formula. This is often the
case when negatives don’t have enough silver density, spectral density or have a fogged
base.
This bicarbonate type toner gives warm red brown to cool brown to purple brown
tonality depending on the depth of printing and depth of toning. It can be used immediately
after mixing.
Percent solutions were rarely used in the nineteenth century. Toning formulas were
based on the method of adding gold by the grain to the toning solution. The standard
for making and using a gold chloride toning solution begins with dissolving 1.0 gram of
gold chloride into a given quantity of water as follows. A gram is equal to 15.4 grains.
Gold Chloride Stock Solution
Gold chloride, 1.0 g (15.4 grains)
Distilled water, 154.0 ml
Based on the above example, every 10 ml will give you 1 grain of pure gold. So
when a vintage formula calls for x quantity of water and so many grains of gold, it’s very
easy. The pH is adjusted by test papers.
Gold-Bicarbonate Toning Formula for Albumen, Salt, and
Collodion Paper
Gold, 2.0 grains (20.0 ml of the stock solution given above)
Distilled water, 700.0 ml
Add: Bicarbonate of soda to test pH 8
More water or more gold can be added to make the bath more controllable if
needed. For toning salt prints (which tone much faster) we start with 1.0 gram gold
and tweak as needed.
Sel d’Or (gold with hypo) One-Step Fix/Tone for Salt and Albumen
This was the very fi rst toning approach for photographic prints and was taken directly
from the technique used to gild daguerreotypes except that in that technique heat was
applied to the underside of the plate during the process.
We usually mix this formula “to taste” but essentially it’s about 4 to 6 grains of gold
stock solution added to a mixture of 1000 ml with 150.0 grams hypo and a pinch of
bicarbonate. The print will initially lighten up when fi rst applied, but then darken gradually
as gold replaces the silver.
Like all gold toners, the action is more effective if performed slowly. Adjust the
gold or water content to require between 5 to 10 minutes at room temperature for
complete toning.