Sepia Toners

R&R PHOTO

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The following recipes were taken from the book "CREATIVE ELEMENTS" Darkroom Techniques for Landscape Photography by Eddie Ephraums

Two Bath Sepia Toners

Fixed and washed prints are bleached and than thoroughly rinsed before toning. Depending on the type of bleach, the extent of bleaching and the formulation of the toner, a wide yet incredibly subtle range of colors can be achieved. All bleaching and toning work of fixed prints can be carried out with the lights on.

Note: For permanent results, images bleached must be fully toned afterwards. If only partially toned, they must then be rinsed and refixed. Most toner bleaches, at working strength, have a very limited life. Discard after use.

Standard Toner Bleach

Water at 40c	750 ml
Potassium Ferricyanide	100g
Potassium Bromide	100g
Water to make	1000ml

For use, dilute 1 part bleach with 9 parts water. ( I like to use warm water) This concentration can be increased if bleaching is to slow.

Evenly immerse the properly washed print into the solution. Agitate continuously.

Bleach the print back until the desired reduction is achieved, than rinse thoroughly until all residual yellow bleach stain is gone. Tone with Thiocarbamide Toner

Thiocarbamide Toner

Solution A
Water at 40c	750 ml
Thiocarbamide	100g
Water to make	1000ml

Solution B
Water at 30c	750ml
Sodium hydroxide	100g
Water to make	1000ml

Add the sodium hydroxide slowly to the water. A variety of image colors can be achieved by toning the bleached print in one of several different ratios of toner solutions A and B, see table

Sol A	Sol B	Water	Image Tone
10ml	50ml	500ml	Purple-Brown
20ml	40ml	500ml	Cold-Brown
30ml	30ml	500ml	Brown
40ml	20ml	500ml	Warm-Brown
50ml	10ml	500ml	Yellow-Brown

Tone the image until full image density has returned. Toning time may take up to several minutes. To ensure full image density is obtained with the higher-dilution, warmer-tone solutions, make sure the toner is at or about 25c and, if the print has been previously washed in cold water, warm it in a tray of warm water prior to toning.

After desired tone is achieved full wash the print prior to drying.

Working strength Thiocarbamide toner has a limited life, discard once it begins to develop a slight cloudy sediment. Stored separately, stock toner solutions keep well.


I use a three tray set up the Bleach is in the Yellow Tray ...which is the same color as the Bleach. Evenly immerse the properly washed print into the solution. Agitate continuously.
	Bleach the print back until the desired reduction is achieved
	The Black Tray is used for the rinse. Rinse thoroughly until all residual yellow bleach stain is gone.
The White Tray is for the Toner. Tone the image until full image density has returned. Toning time may take up to several minutes. To ensure full image density is obtained with the higher-dilution, warmer-tone solutions, make sure the toner is at or about 25c and, if the print has been previously washed in cold water, warm it in a tray of warm water prior to toning. Agitate continuously.
	After the Toning step another through rinse than the print can be dried.
	With experience (meaning after you have done this once or twice) you will be able to feel the Toner on the Print (it's slick). Make sure your print is clear before drying.
Three books that I use

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