Use of X-ray film: technical discussion with example images

[SergeiR]

Very nice. Scene gives me ideas. Process also interesting.

Thanks

Yeah, i got this doll for some collodion series, but ended up never starting it (was too hot here for 2 last months) Now that it cooling down i can start after all

[SergeiR]

Oh and after 30-35 minutes developer looks like REALLY dirty water and, what is interesting, fixer doesn't become as yellowish as with 12 minutes or less.

[kanga]

The very first test picture, it's not bad, but in the future some little problem i will hope be solved.
Film: XOE Retina (iso400), Rodinal 1+50, dev.: 7sec, in tank, rotated with my hand.

[mdarnton]

I wonder if anyone has any idea why xray films clear so quickly in the fix? Given their extra density, that's the last thing I would expect.

They also seem to dry quickly.

[Donald Qualls]

As a semi-educated guess, the double emulsion films use a grain technology appropriate for a single emulsion at half the speed (because the double layer gives roughly twice the density for a given exposure), or about ISO 50 for "full speed" material -- and in general, the slower the emulsion, the smaller the halide grains and the faster they'll clear in the fixer. Further, they're cubic grain rather than tabular; tabular grain takes 2-3 times as long to clear for a given speed. A half speed double coated x-ray film probably has grain size comparable to one of the faster printing papers, which will fully fix in two minutes in rapid fixer; even the full speed version ought to fix almost as quickly as Ilford Pan F or an ortho litho copy film (which typically fix about like enlarging paper).

[mdarnton]

Thanks.

[jp]

Regular film can clear pretty quickly too, but we don't see it as that's not done under safelight conditions.

[Corran]

I turn on the lights as soon as the film (regular film) is in the fixer. TMX takes like 4-6 minutes to clear. Most others are a little less. But not nearly as fast as x-ray (instantaneously, pretty much).

[jcoldslabs]

I can't address the "how" aspect, but isn't x-ray film designed to have a much shorter processing time than regular film? I seem to remember my dental x-rays being dry and ready for viewing in three to four minutes.

Jonathan

[premortho]

OK, it's normal orthochromatic film. I did not see if it is coated with emulsion on both sides. It is considerably easier to develop single sided films. Try a shot between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM at 100 ASA sensitivity. Develop in a tray under a red safelight. The best safelights today are 3 or 12 Volt red LEDs. You can develop in 1 to 100 Rodinal, until the negative is done under the safelight.

Someone has used this film?
How can the sensitivity?
Tolerate the red light?

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