APPLICATIONS PRINTING IN BLACK & WHITE TONING PRINTS
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Split Toning
Split toning involves the use of more than one colour toner.
Split toning techniques are used to obtain different colours for the highlight and shadow areas of prints - by using two toners one after the other. The table below shows some of these example effects possible.
By carefully controlling the toning process, or by only partially bleaching the print, sepia toner can be used very subtly.
Also with Multigrade 1V RC Deluxe paper, it is possible to warm up the blacks, or perhaps tint shadows and highlights a different colour.
Below are the key points and methods associated with split toning :-
- When toning, it is the highlights of the print that are usually the first to change colour - and then the shadow areas. So, a reduced time in the first toner starts the toning process and affects the highlights of the print.
- The second toner completes the toning process - and affects the shadows of the print.
- By adjusting the time in the first toner, more or less of the tonal range of the print is affected by this first toner.
As a guide :-
- Try reducing the toning time in the first toner to about 25% of the recommended time.
- Wash the print well before using the second toner.
- Tone the print in the second toner - until the desired effect is seen.
Toner examples / effects
First Toner / Second Toner / Effect
Sepia / Blue / Sepia highlights, blue shadows, green mid-tones
Sepia / Selenium / Brown Purples
Selenium / Gold, Purple-blue mid tones
Blue / Selenium/ Blue shadows and buff highlights
Some toners for example Kodak T-21 toner (Nelson gold) - tone the highlights and shadows at the same time. These are not so effective for split toning techniques.
However, with such toners the whole print is toned at a uniform rate, so the toning can be stopped when the desired hue is reached.
Partial bleaching before sepia toning is the easiest technique - dilute the bleach with water to reduce its activity. Bleaching continues even after washing of the print has begun - so it needs to be removed from the solution while the image is still slightly too dark.
If this print is then sepia toned, the warm hues will be more visible in the highlights than in the shadows.
Toning the print again in blue toner can produce an unusual duo-tone blue/brown print. Prolonged washing can be used to control the density of the blue tints.