Randy
30-Jul-2015, 11:48
Double sided X-ray film is all I shoot for 8X10.
Here is what I have tried over the past few years:
1) Multiple sheets in trays - I have managed to get the scratches down considerably BUT I still get to many.
2) Hangers in tanks - I continue to get, to a degree, uneven development (especially if sky is in the picture) and surge marks / increased density near the border of the film.
3) Single sheet in gallon freezer bag - some scratching.
4) Single sheet in plastic rotary tube with caps - some scratching, probably from inserting film or removing film after processing.
...so, I had a couple "epiphanies" the other day.
Epiphany #1) I have never tried stripping one side of the double-sided film, but have a friend who does it all the time. I wanted to try processing in a tray with a sheet of glass (as some here have said they employ), but I wondered if I could kill two birds, so I taped a sheet of exposed film to glass with masking tape (trying to seal it so no developer could get to the back side), developed in a tray, and once it was in the fix I removed the tape so the fix could now get to the back side of the film. My thought was: little to no scratching - and - remove the back side emulsion in the fix, which would be undeveloped because of the tape, and that would end the need to strip / bleach the back side after processing (if one wanted to).
Anyway:
I agitated only by rocking the tray, which I am guessing is not a very good method of tray agitation, for film anyway.
I believe masking tape is not the best for what I am trying to accomplish.
I had "0" scratches.
So, my questions are:
1) Can anyone recommend a tape that will be sticky enough to hold the film to the glass and not let any liquid past during the processing (the masking tape seemed to be releasing in places at some point)?
2) What would be a good agitation method for processing a single sheet in a tray, taped to glass?
3) Am I not thinking clearly here - is this not a good alternative to stripping the emulsion with bleach?
Epiphany #2) I have not tried stand development for 8X10 X-ray film for two reasons:
1) I use the double sided film and figured stand would not work unless the bottom side was going to be stripped.
2) I didn't want to have to spend all that time in a darkened bathroom.
So, I was considering the alternatives and the idea of using one of those molded plastic darkroom paper-safes as a developing chamber for stand development popped into my wee brain. That way, after putting the sheet in the developer, just lower the lid and you can now turn the light on and leave the room...thoughts?
Here is what I have tried over the past few years:
1) Multiple sheets in trays - I have managed to get the scratches down considerably BUT I still get to many.
2) Hangers in tanks - I continue to get, to a degree, uneven development (especially if sky is in the picture) and surge marks / increased density near the border of the film.
3) Single sheet in gallon freezer bag - some scratching.
4) Single sheet in plastic rotary tube with caps - some scratching, probably from inserting film or removing film after processing.
...so, I had a couple "epiphanies" the other day.
Epiphany #1) I have never tried stripping one side of the double-sided film, but have a friend who does it all the time. I wanted to try processing in a tray with a sheet of glass (as some here have said they employ), but I wondered if I could kill two birds, so I taped a sheet of exposed film to glass with masking tape (trying to seal it so no developer could get to the back side), developed in a tray, and once it was in the fix I removed the tape so the fix could now get to the back side of the film. My thought was: little to no scratching - and - remove the back side emulsion in the fix, which would be undeveloped because of the tape, and that would end the need to strip / bleach the back side after processing (if one wanted to).
Anyway:
I agitated only by rocking the tray, which I am guessing is not a very good method of tray agitation, for film anyway.
I believe masking tape is not the best for what I am trying to accomplish.
I had "0" scratches.
So, my questions are:
1) Can anyone recommend a tape that will be sticky enough to hold the film to the glass and not let any liquid past during the processing (the masking tape seemed to be releasing in places at some point)?
2) What would be a good agitation method for processing a single sheet in a tray, taped to glass?
3) Am I not thinking clearly here - is this not a good alternative to stripping the emulsion with bleach?
Epiphany #2) I have not tried stand development for 8X10 X-ray film for two reasons:
1) I use the double sided film and figured stand would not work unless the bottom side was going to be stripped.
2) I didn't want to have to spend all that time in a darkened bathroom.
So, I was considering the alternatives and the idea of using one of those molded plastic darkroom paper-safes as a developing chamber for stand development popped into my wee brain. That way, after putting the sheet in the developer, just lower the lid and you can now turn the light on and leave the room...thoughts?