I haven't used ilford MG in years because I don't care for the greenish cast. Toning never seemed to change it much. With the selection of papers getting smaller all the time, I may have to consider it again. What say you? Is it still green?
I haven't used ilford MG in years because I don't care for the greenish cast. Toning never seemed to change it much. With the selection of papers getting smaller all the time, I may have to consider it again. What say you? Is it still green?
Hi Kevin, I have done 30 prints or so recently on the MG Pearl using Ilford Multigrade developer, Ilfostop and Ilford Rapid Fixer.
They look gray scale to me.
I was going to post a paper print scan but they are scanned in gray scale, so I will have to do a color scan for you.
It's not green in Formulary 130 and hasn't been. Ilford in Dektol always looked bad to me because of the greenish cast.
https://www.box.com/s/xdcp90qr6h5ou60ey7al
Here is an un pp scan of an Ilford Multigrade Pearl paper print with a chunk of a color/gray card along side.
According the Gimp the RGB is +/- about 2 parts in 256 across the brightness range on the print and the gray card is similar ( B is down 2 parts, that being scanner error).
Print was developed per my earlier post.
Print looks like a good gray scale on the Eizo in sRGB. I don't notice any cast on the real prints in sunlit office here.
I would suggest using a Phenidone or Glycin based developer to control print color with this paper. Ansco 130 is a good choice; you might also consider Ethol LPD or Clayton Phenidone developer.
The slight olive green tone that is sometimes evident in Ilford Multigrade paper is due to using a developer that contains potassium bromide in its formula.
Check the paper developer formula. If it contains potassium bromide, change to one that doesn't use KBr as it's retardant.
Merg, you and I were typing our answers at the same time.
Great minds-------
I manage to get the tone color where I like it by using selenium toner @ 1:20 for a long time- like 20 minutes.
Most papers go greenish in any Dektol-ish MQ developer. There are certainly other kinds of
paper to choose - the VC selection at the moment is impressive, though each has its own
tone or toning personality.
The mantra that a dip in KRST loses the green cast has been mentioned so many times over the years that it,just possibly,is true.
It certainly works for me. Dilution,time,don't appear to matter.
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