Foma Sepia Toner 2×250ml – Rich Sulphide Toner for B&W Prints

Introduction

Foma Sepia Toner is a classic two-bath toner specially formulated for enhancing black and white photographic prints. Whether you’re a professional darkroom artist, a fine art printer, or a hobbyist who loves the tactile charm of analogue photography, this toner provides a stunning transformation in tone and mood. From warm yellow-brown hues to deep violet-brown tones, the final image can be beautifully controlled depending on the temperature of the second bath.

Packaged in two 250ml PE bottles (Part A and Part B), Foma Sepia Toner is designed for both freshly processed and older, archival-quality prints. It’s a reliable and easy-to-use solution that adds richness and depth to your black and white photographs, making them truly timeless.

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 What is Foma Sepia Toner?

Foma Sepia Toner is a sulphide-based toner used for converting black and white silver images into warm-toned brown images. The process involves two chemical baths:

1. Bleaching Bath (Part A): This step removes the metallic silver from the image.

2. Toning Bath (Part B): Converts the bleached image back into a toned silver sulphide image.

The unique property of this toner is its ability to produce different tones depending on temperature and timing. Lower temperatures result in lighter yellow-brown tones, while higher temperatures (around 50°C) create deeper violet-brown or dark brown shades.

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 Why Choose Foma Sepia Toner?

• ✅ Professional Quality Results – Perfect for fine art, archival printing, or creative effects.

• ✅ Temperature-Dependent Toning – Total control over final tone.

• ✅ Ideal for Fiber-Based (FB) and Resin-Coated (RC) Papers – Works with a variety of photographic papers.

• ✅ Suitable for Old and New Prints – Revive vintage photographs or add depth to new prints.

• ✅ Easy-to-Mix Liquid Concentrate – Convenient 2×250ml PE bottle packaging for long shelf life and consistent results.

Whether you’re looking to create a nostalgic vintage print or bring out tonal depth in your portfolio work, Foma toner is a go-to darkroom essential.

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 How to Use Foma Sepia Toner

Using the Foma Sepia Toner involves a two-bath process:

1. Dilute the bleach (Part A) 1:1 with water. Immerse your fully washed and dried print until the silver image fades (approximately 2–3 minutes).

2. Rinse thoroughly in running water for 30–60 seconds.

3. Dilute the toner (Part B) 1:1 with water and immerse the print. Depending on the temperature, toning may take 1–5 minutes.

4. Wash the toned print thoroughly in running water for 10–15 minutes.

⚠️ Note: Always wear gloves and work in a well-ventilated area. Sulphide toners may release a mild odor during toning.

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 Image Tone Variations with Foma Sepia Toner

The final color tone is a function of time and temperature:

• At 20°C (room temperature): Expect light yellow-brown or warm sepia hues.

• At 40–50°C: Achieve rich, violet-brown to dark brown tones.

This makes Fomatoner Sepia perfect for creative expression. Artists and printers can experiment with contrast, warmth, and mood in their final image output.

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 External References and Educational Resources

To learn more about sulphide toning and archival darkroom practices, visit:

• 📚 Ilford Photo’s Guide to Toning B&W Prints (PDF)

• 🖼️ The Getty Conservation Institute on Photographic Toning

Here’s an excellent video that directly demonstrates the two-bath sepia toning process you’ll use with your Foma Sepia Toner 2×250ml – Rich Sulphide Toner for B&W Prints:

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 Internal Links (from Onestopphoto)

Pair your Foma Sepia Toner with these compatible darkroom tools and products:

• 🧴 Wide Mouth Chemical Storage Bottle – 1L White

• 🖼️  Foma Multigrade Filter Set 6 

• 🧪 Paterson Developing Tray Set – 8×10 Inch

• 📏 Glass Thermometer 

These accessories help you get the best performance out of your Foma Sepia Toner.

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 What’s in the Box?

• 1 × Foma Sepia Toner – Part A (250ml PE Bottle)

• 1 × Foma Sepia Toner – Part B (250ml PE Bottle)

• Easy-to-follow instructions for dilution and use

Each bottle can tone multiple prints, depending on paper type, dilution, and print size.

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 Archival & Longevity Benefits

Foma Sepia Toner doesn’t just enhance tone—it also contributes to print longevity. Silver sulphide images are more stable and archivally durable than standard silver gelatin prints. This makes it a preferred choice for museum-grade fine art prints, portfolios, and archival documentation.

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 Pro Tip:

If you’re toning a print that has been stored for a long time, it’s best to first re-wash and dry it before starting the bleach step. This ensures uniform and predictable results when using Fomatoner Sepia.

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 Ideal For:

• Darkroom artists

• Fine art photographers

• Exhibition & archival printers

• Students learning analogue processes

• Film photography enthusiasts exploring toning

Whether you’re printing landscapes, portraits, or abstract compositions, the Foma Sepia Toner can give your work a beautiful timeless character.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is Foma Sepia Toner used for?

Foma Sepia Toner is a sulphide-based, two-bath toner designed to give black and white photographic prints a warm tone ranging from yellow-brown to violet-brown. It also enhances the archival stability of the print.

2. Can I use Foma Sepia Toner on both new and old prints?

Yes, Foma Sepia Toner works well on both freshly processed and older B&W prints. For best results with old prints, ensure they are fully washed and free of any surface contamination before toning.

3. What type of paper works best with Foma Sepia Toner?

You can use Foma Sepia Toner with both fibre-based (FB) and resin-coated (RC) black and white photo papers. However, fibre-based papers typically yield more visually rich and tonally complex results.

4. How does temperature affect the final tone?

The color outcome depends heavily on the temperature of the second (toning) bath:

• At 20°C, it produces light yellow-brown tones.

• At 40–50°C, it results in deep violet-brown or dark sepia tones.

5. Is Foma Sepia Toner archival-safe?

Yes. Because it replaces metallic silver with silver sulphide, Foma Sepia Toner improves the archival longevity of the print, making it ideal for fine art, exhibitions, and museum-quality work.

Final Thoughts on Foma Sepia Toner

If you’re looking to elevate your black and white prints with rich, archival-quality tones, Foma Sepia Toner is an exceptional choice. Its two-bath system offers total control over the final image tone, from warm yellow-brown to deep violet-brown—making it ideal for both creative and preservation-focused applications.

Trusted by professional darkroom printers and loved by analogue photography enthusiasts worldwide, Fomatoner Sepia delivers not just visual transformation but also improved print longevity. Whether you’re restoring vintage photos or giving your modern prints a timeless finish, this sulphide toner ensures consistency, depth, and elegance.

Add Fomatoner Sepia 2×250ml to your darkroom toolkit today and rediscover the classic beauty of toned black and white prints—print by print, bath by bath.