Also avoid excessive fixing. Do not fix prints for longer than the recommended time (approximately 10 minutes for fiber-base papers, 2 minutes for resin-coated papers).

Prolonged fixing expands the paper and allows the solution to penetrate the base. Fixer that is trapped in the base is difficult to remove, and will make prints that are toned in selenium or sulfide toners turn yellow. Prolonged fixing can also reduce the silver image.

Washing

Thorough washing is especially important when you prepare prints for toning. Residual silver salts and traces of hypo in the paper may cause stains, uneven tones, and fading.

Wash fiber-baseprints for one hour with agitation in a tank or tray; the wash-water flow rate should provide a complete change of water every 5 minutes. To reduce washing time and conserve water, use KODAK Hypo Clearing Agent according to the instructions.

Wash resin-coatedpapers for 4 minutes in running water. The wash-water flow rate should be sufficient to change the water completely during the 4-minute wash. We do not recommend using Hypo Clearing Agent with resin-coated papers.

Agitate prints and keep them separated during washing. Don’t overload your wash tank.

Toning

Do not use metal trays or tanks to hold your toning solutions. Use only unchipped enamel, hard-rubber, or plastic trays.

You can tone prints immediately after washing. (See the instructions for specific toners under Using KODAK Packaged Toners and Using Mixed Toners.)

If you tone prints that are already dry, soak them in water for 2 to 3 minutes before toning.

Note: Prints toned after storage may show stains due to adverse storage conditions.

When you tone resin-coated papers, keep toning times to a minimum to prevent the solution from penetrating the edges of the papers. If you tone resin-coated prints for longer than 8 to 10 minutes, leave a large border around the image so that you can trim off the edges if the toner penetrates them. (It is difficult to wash toner from the edges of a print.)

After you have soaked prints in toner solution, wash them as directed in the toner instructions.

Drying

Dry toned fiber-base prints slowly between sheets of blotting paper or on a drying rack.

Remove excess water from the surface of resin-coated prints, and air-dry them at room temperature or use circulated warm air.

Note: Drying with heat causes a shift to a cooler tone with some paper/toner combinations. Set the speed and temperature of the dryer to the lowest settings. You may have to adjust the amount of toning to compensate for the shift to a cooler tone.

SAFE HANDLING OF PHOTOGRAPHIC CHEMICALS

Handle all chemicals carefully.

Packages of Kodak photographic chemicals carry precautionary labels when necessary. Always read the labels and follow the instructions carefully. For safe-handling information for particular Kodak chemicals, see the product label or the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). To obtain MSDSs, go to www.kodak.com/go/MSDS.

Keep the darkroom and mixing room clean. Clean up spilled chemicals as soon as possible.

Wear protective clothing, such as a waterproof apron and rubber gloves, when mixing solutions. Always wear goggles or a safety glasses when handling acids or strong alkalis.

Avoid contact of any chemicals with your skin. Some photographic solutions and powders can cause skin irritation and an allergic skin reaction. (Use plastic print tongs and wear clean rubber gloves when you use KODAK Brown Toner, because the solution is quite alkaline.)

Keep chemicals and processing solutions out of the reach of children and pets. Do not store chemicals where you handle or store food. Do not eat, drink, or smoke in chemical-handling areas. Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling chemicals, especially before eating or drinking.

Maintain proper ventilation in the mixing room and darkroom.

Dispose of used chemicals safely. Do not discard sulfide-type toners with stop baths or fixing baths. The combination of these solutions will generate hydrogen sulfide gas. (Hydrogen sulfide gas can fog unexposed paper and film, and will oxidize unprotected silver images in negatives and prints.) Discard the solutions individually, and flush the drain with plenty of water after you discard each solution.

Toning Black-and-White Materials G-23

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Kodak Printer Accessories manual Safe Handling of Photographic Chemicals, Washing, Toning, Drying