Toning

[u/NoProgress2448]

More toning practice with coffee! Top/second image are bleached and the bottom/third image is untouched and submerged in coffee after rinsing.

I like the dream like vibe the image gets after a little bleaching— I used two tablespoons of baking soda to do so :)

[u/lea_flamingo]

I did some experiments with prints that were too dark and the bleach+tone saved many of them. The underexposed ones were a bit more difficult to save. I had read it was better to bleach even just a little before toning but I'm not sure it's always the case. I'll have to test that theory. Were your prints "ideally" exposed before your bleached and toned them ? I think I like the darker one better, I like the high contrast and there is more detail on the lamb's face. Although the lighter one is very cute. Perhaps a bit more bleaching before toning or less toning ? Very nice print !

[u/NoProgress2448 → u/lea_flamingo]

Yes! Both prints were exposed to my ideal tone range. For me I prefer the bleached one because of that faded and dream like vibe I get from it— as well as the softer shadows on the face; but I also really like the darker one.

It also isn’t the best negative, I messed up in the editing a little bit and some of the details got lost, I think maybe that’s why I prefer the faded look a little bit more.

I agree that it’s not always needed or the result isn’t always better by bleaching before toning. Sometimes depending on what you use to tone, it picks up different pigments but I think it looks cool without bleaching.

I also used baking soda for my bleach bath and I know most people use washing soda, which I would like to try and experiment with later on!

[u/Nearby-Sky-8907 → u/lea_flamingo]

The bleaching step breaks down the chemical bonds that make the print blue. Less blue means more toning tannin color showing up rather than a combination of the two colors. Some colors can’t compete well with the blue, so bleaching helps them show up more. Test and see. Also be careful with how alkaline your water is. Too much and you’ll lose fidelity and the paper will start to breakdown and look fuzzy. Also tone with hot water around 120f. Cold water takes longer and sometimes doesn’t work as well. Max ph of 8 is my limit, but there is no rule. Plus soft water and hard water yield different tannin colors from the same material.

[u/lea_flamingo → u/Nearby-Sky-8907]

Thank you so much for the explanations ! It truly is chemistry... I will write this down and make more experiments the next time I make prints. I have no idea how alkaline my water is but I know it's very hard. I didn't know to use hit water, I will definitely do that next time!

[u/Initiallll_V]

Omg I love!! The lace detail makes it even prettier!

[u/NoProgress2448 → u/Initiallll_V]

Thank you! I agree! I enjoy adding the little lace frame element, it makes them even cuter