Selenium Toner for Negs. It Doesn't Work

[Doug Paramore]

William: I just finished running some tests with toning 4x5 HP-5 Plus and Tri-X. I used a 1-10 dilution of selenium to water. I noticed a very slight effect with the HP-5 after 10 minutes, so I left the film in the tray for about 45 minutes and the change was considerable. I used extra negs I made at the beach three weeks ago with fresh film. I cut the film in half and toned half of two sheets. I also toned one sheet of Tri-X. The half -sheet of HP-5 is quite a bit darker and more contrasty than the untoned film, expecially in the water and sky areas. I haven't made a side-by-side contact print yet, but I believe there is at least a stop difference. The negs were on the thin side before toning. Try longer in the toner. Hope this helps.

[William Marderness]

Toning negatives does work! I left a negative in 1:3 selenium toner for 1 hour and got a modest density increase. A 1.43 density increased to a 1.53 density.