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

Just developed my first four x-ray EB/RA shots, and they came out okay. Problem is that they are scratched to hell. I knew they were fragile, but man, not this fragile. I'm not sure where I messed up. I always rigorously agitate by lightly rocking the tray. I use my fingers to switch between trays. Only other place I can imagine they were scratched was in the cutting process.

Should I wear nitrile gloves during development, and cut it over a cushioned surface instead of right on the wood art-scythe-board thing? Do you guys have any tips for keepin' 'em scratch free?

I'm not familiar with this film, although I have several years experience with x-ray film, both single and double-side. Is this a double-sided film? If so, take extra precautions when handling it. I cut both versions between two pieces of paper. I use a very sharp knife and straight edge. It's great that we can work under a safelight! Take care loading and unloading film holders. I develop in flat-bottomed trays. Gentle agitation. I use mainly pyrocat-hd developer, but I also sometimes use a Rodinol variant. I always wear gloves, mainly for safety. No scratching issues.

It's single sided, I think. I use a shared darkroom belonging to a small photography club, and they only have the ribbed bottomed trays. Could I put a glass plate on the bottom? When you say you wear gloves, is that both felt gloves during cutting and nitrile gloves during development?

Yes, put a glass plate on the bottom. That is what I did before I picked up some used, flat-bottomed trays. I only wear nitrile gloves. I can't stand wearing cloth/felt gloves. :)

YAY! The threads have been merged.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Andrew O'Neill

YAY! The threads have been merged.

---

So everyone knows what's going on: over time the X-ray image sharing thread has turned out to be heavily weighted toward technical discussion, so we've merged it with the technical thread on X-ray film and placed the combined thread here.

Now we can tell newbies to read all 4K and counting posts!

I wonder how much work it takes a Mod to merge a monstrosity like this?

Weeks?

My curiosity is personal as I am starting a forum for my building...

I reckon it takes a few minutes.

Andrew: I notice that you're also in Canada. Where would I even find a glass plate that's the right size?

At a shop that sells window glass... ;) Where abouts are you?