LABOR PARTNER LP-SELENIA

Technical Application No. 221/2

Table of contents:
Summary

1. Product description /areas of application
2. Application instructions
3. Safety notes
4. Mixing/Toning
5. Washing instructions
6. Shelf life + yield
7. Assortment + packaging
8. Storage
9. General informations about MACO-Products

Summary of attributes of LABOR PARTNER LP-SELENIA

• LP-SELENIA is a modern Selenium toner for treatment of Black & White prints.
• It can also be used as an intenisfier for Black & White negatives
• The proven selenium toning should be exercised under normal lighting conditions.
• The toning improves and serves:
  • Improvement of archival qualities/Life Expectancy
  • The Increase of maximum density
  • The manipulation of the image tone

• LP-SELENIA is available in easy to mix liquid concentrate

1. Product description

LABOR PARTNER LP-SELENIA is a Selenium toner for application of processed black & white photos.

Selenium toner is normally used for Baryta fiber based photos and can also be used for RC-based prints in order to protect image silver against environmental influences and therefore improves Life Expectancy.

Toning with LP-SELENIA in accordance with the instructions, the image silver will be stabilized into a silverselenite compound.

Furthermore, applying the selenium toner increases the maximum density of the photos.

Depending on the type of photographic papers being used for toning, it is possible to change the image tone, this can be used to add an individual look to your photos.

Specialty:

LP-SELENIA makes use of a chemically purified selenium compound in highest photographic quality.

Note:

For customers who do not have experience in handling photographic chemistry and for first time users it is especially important to pay attention to the safety notes, for persons having toning experience it is equally important to work with the instructions.

Please read carefully the safety notes in chapter 3.

2. Application instructions

Before toning make sure that the prints have been thoroughly washed so that the last traces of fixer are washed out, if in doubt extend washing time by 10 minutes.

With dry prints, a prewash is recommended:

			Pre wash:
			If prints were fixed with LP-FIX NEUTRAL:	2-3 Minutes
			If prints were fixed with acidic fixing baths, e.g. LP-FIX SAUER:	10-20 Minutes

Washing aids are not recommended.

Generally, the use of the MACO ecowash printwashers will lead to archival washing results.

Please ask for more informations about these washers under the Hotline at the end of this instruction sheet.

3. Safety notes

LABOR PARTNER LP-SELENIA contains Ammoniumthiosulphate up to 30 %, Natriumsulphite up to 10% and Natriumselenite up to 3%.

For your own safety, please follow the instructions:

• avoid direct contact skin. Wear rubber or latex gloves. Other protective accessories such as goggles etc. are also recommended.
• make sure that the room where the toning takes place is sufficiently aired.
• follow all mixing and working instructions closely.
• trays, tongs and mixing jugs should be kept separately only for toning with LP-SELENIA.
• do not mix any other substances into LP-SELENIA.
• keep photographic chemistry out of the reach of children
• if contact with skin or eyes occurs wash with plenty of water
• if swallowed, induce vomiting immidiately

In both cases seek medical assistance.

An EU-Safety data sheet is available upon request

Disposal: According to local regulations.

4. Mixing/Toning

Mixing takes place at room temperature. If one wants to tone directly after mixing, please read the note about toning temperature.

General notes about mixing and toning:

Please select the desired effect of the toning before mixing:

• increase of maximum density only,
• improvement of Life Expectancy,
• manipulation of the image tone

Further informations about selenium toning:

Following chart shows, that the toning time needed for toning to max. D. averages about 2 - 5 minutes. Depending on the type of paper one can often notice a change of the image tone. By lowering the dilution, for example 1 + 9, the process can be speeded up.

With pure bromide papers at a normal dilution there is an increase of max.D, but almost no change of the image tone.

However, a change of the image can be achieved with a higher concentrated working solution, tone bromide photos approx. 10-12 min. at a dilution of 1 + 1 - 1 + 3. The result will have a kind of metallic shine to it as it is known only with „platinum printing".

With chlorobromide papers a tonal change into „redblack" or „violetblack" can be noticed.

If one wants to achieve an increase of maximum density only, without a change of the image tone, one should , depending on the type of paper, either dilute higher (max. 1+ 100) and extend toning time to approx. 20 - 25 minutes or use a dilution of 1 + 19 and tone for about 2 - 3 minutes while closely watching the print.

Hint:

For a better judgement of the degree of toning, we recommend the following procedure: Place a second tray filled with water next to your toning tray and place a print of the same density but untoned into the tray. By doing so you can always compare the print visually in the toning tray with the untoned print. This is helpful especially for low degrees of toning and for beginners.

If toning time is too prolonged, the maximum density will suffer with almost all papers. This can be seen clearly in the chart. On the other hand the image tone might change even more with some papers.

Quite often a so called „split-toning effect" can be noticed, it means that shadow areas will show a change of the image tone, while the highlights do not.

Toning temperature

For achieving a successful and permanent toning it is necessary to tone at a higher temperature than the final wash temperature.

We recommend to tone at 24°C/ 75 F and wash at 20°C / 68 F.

Depending on the type of desired toning effect LP-SELENIA has to be diluted in different concentrations

Toning takes place in a well lit room. Preferably you tone each print individually, emulsion side up with constant agitation.

Having finished toning take the print out and let it drain before giving the print into the final wash. (See chapter 5)

Note about manipulation of image tone

LP-SELENIA will cause different image tones with different photographic emulsions. Even the choice of the developer used to develop the print may make a difference.

In order to learn the actual change of image tone, we recommend to start toning with well washed spare prints.

One of the reasons to tone black & white prints with LP-SELENIA is the variety of possible results. The special look of a selenium toned photo raises the visual quality above the average.

For informations in regard of the final wash please read following instructions.

Intensifying flat B&W negatives:

Prewash your negatives (1-2 min. 20°C/68F). Dunk the negatives in LP-SELENIA working solution, dilution 1+9, for up to 10 minutes (Toning temperature at least 4°C higher than washing temp.). Final washing and drying as usual with films.

Advantage: In addition to a decisive contrast enhancement, a Dmax gain of up to one f-stop can be achieved and this without the usually encountered (with conventional intenisfiers) increase of the graininess.

Selenium toning is especially useful in combination with Polaroid™ positive/negative films (Type 55 + Type 665).

5. Washing instructions

After toning, prints have to be washed thoroughly.

Preferably use the last chambers of the especially well suited MACO ecowash printwashers. Advantage of the ecowash is a short and thorough washing while saving water in comparison to conventional washing methods.

Moreover, one avoids the risks of washing out optical brighteners or damaging the structure of the paper, which may happen due to long washing times

6. Shelf life + Yield

Shelf life:

LP-SELENIA has a shelf life of 12 - 24 months in unopened and 6 - 12 months in opened original bottles.

Depending on degree of toning and type and weight of paper one can tone per 1000 cc working solution:

7. Assortment + packaging

LP-SELENIA is available as a liquid concentrate, package size 1000 cc bottle, article No. LPH41, and 2 x 250 cc, Article No. LLPH42.

Note:

The black 1000 cc bottles have ab additional safety ring around the cap. Please take it off before unscrewing.

8. Storage

LP-SELENIA in the original bottle should be stored at room temperature.

(Temperature range min. 5°C - max. 30°C)

9. General informations about MACO Products

For all MACO Products, of which some have been mentioned here, you can receive technical application sheets by sending a sufficiently stamped addressed envelope.

TA SELENIA TA-Nr. 221/2 October 2002

Errors, or omissions regarding technical progress remain excepted.