The toners described here are suitable for both prints and black & white slides. As well as staining prints (which is their intended use), they are also capable of staining fingers, table tops, etc. so it is best to wear gloves or use tongs.

1. Sepia Toner
2. Iron (blue) Toner
3. Copper (red/pink) Toner

For the metallic toners(iron & copper) I have prepared a number of stock solutions which I simply mix together and dilute to give the various formulations which I then use for one session and discard. This ensures that my chemicals are fresh.

Sepia Toner

This is the classic sepia toner, presented here in its odourless form which used Thiourea instead of sulphide. The toner is capable of creating a range of brown tones which will give an old-fashioned look to photographs. When used sparingly it is effective, but if overused it can become a cliche or gimmick. I have noticed that this toner modifies the contrast of the print slightly and can increase the amount of detail in shadow areas, which can come in very handy in some situations.

Three solutions are required. The first is the bleach, which converts the silver image to silver bromide. The second solution is the toner itself. It converts the silver bromide to silver sulphide, which is the brown colour. The third solution may be added to the toner to vary the brown tone obtained.
(Note: when B&W photographs are exposed to the air, any airborne pollutants will attack the silver in the image, which will lead to discolourisation caused by irregular patches of tarnished silver. A sepia toned image has no metallic silver present because it has all been converted to silver sulphide, so should last longer than an untoned print.)

Bleach

Potassium Ferricyanide (red crystals) 10g

Potassium Bromide 10g

Water to 1 litre

Toner

Thiourea 10g

Water to 1 litre

Additive: Tone Modifier (CARE: wear gloves and safety glasses)

Sodium Hydroxide 5g

Water to 100ml

When toning prints, pour sufficient of the bleach into one tray, and sufficient toner into another. Some sodium hydroxide solution may be added to the toner (trial and error is needed here, but about 10ml is a good starting point), more hydroxide gives darker browns. Place the print in the bleach until most of the image has faded - this will probably take 1-2 minutes. Wash the print well then place it into the toner. Leave the print in the toner for 1-2 minutes, then remove and wash thoroughly in plenty of water.

Iron Toner

This is my version of the blue print toner, which traditionally consists of Ammonium Iron Citrate, Potassium Ferricyanide and an acid. A number of different acids may be used (such as Acetic or Citric), so if you don't have sulphuric acid, don't be afraid to experiment. Similarly, I couldn't get hold of Ammonium Iron Citrate, so I use a mixture of Potassium Citrate and Ammonium Iron Sulphate.

The toner is mixed immediately prior to use, from pre-prepared stock solutions as follows:

Solution required Amount

Potassium Citrate (20% w/v) 10ml

Potassium Ferricyanide (10% w/v) 10ml

Ammonium Iron Sulphate (10% w/v) 10ml

Sulphuric Acid (10% vol) 20ml

Water to 500ml

The above mixture is poured into a developing tray (double up all the volumes if more solution is needed to cover the prints). The prints should be left in the toner until the desired tone is obtained, then washed thoroughly in plenty of water. After a print has been toned, it may be lightened by immersing in a dilute borax solution (about 1-2%).

Copper Toner

This toner replaces the silver in the paper with metallic copper, which gives the image a red/pink colour. With some papers, the effect can be similar to a sepia tone. Two of the solutions used are identical to ones used in the Iron toner above, so if you have already tried the iron toner, then you only need one extra chemical to make this one.

Solution required Amount

Potassium citrate (20%) 10ml

Copper sulphate (10%) 10ml

Potassium ferricyanide (10%) 10ml

Water to 500ml

Mix the chemicals together in the order given, and pour into a developing tray. 500ml is sufficient to tone up to 5 10x8 prints. More solution can be mixed if larger prints are to be toned. Alternatively, the toner may be applied with cotton wool (the same applies to the iron toner), but this may leave streaks on the print if the toner isn't applied evenly.