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

I don't know why the stripping thing is such a big deal.

I also think it's folly to just dismiss those of us who strip the film as "careless film handlers."

I process my film in an 8x10 BTZS tube. Yes, my first reason to strip the film is that it gets scratched all to hell in the tube, as people told me it would. But I also discovered ways to not have that issue, but I don't really care, as I find it beneficial.

Like I mentioned, I think people should test it for themselves.

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Originally Posted by Michael Graves

Can somebody offer a little help to the old and feeble? I've been through this thread and seen several comments about, yes you do strip the back emulsion, no you don't strip the back emulsion...but I don't get it.

What is the advantage of stripping the emulsion, and how do you strip just the back emulsion without stripping it all? Forgive me if this was answered somewhere in here, but I went through the whole thread and didn't find it.

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Being slightly incapacitated at the moment I have read this entire thread as well as the other thread concerning x-ray film. When I read the comments by people who appear to have the greatest knowledge and most experience I come up with the conclusion that the only reason for stripping film is to eliminate scratches on the reverse side which are generally caused by poor film handling techniques.

I know some will argue with is that they have good techniques and still get scratches, but if I were able to watch them in action I have little doubt that I could point out their faults in film handling techniques. During my time as a teacher for over 60 years I have been able to make such observations for more than a few people.

Sergei,
this is another of your beautiful images. Yes I can see where you might have a concern or two, most of the people these images have appeared on this thread would be more than happy to have this image as their own.

You are the one of the people to whom I was referring in my previous reply as being an experienced and careful worker. Your attention to detail in every aspect of your work lends to its technical excellence as well as its beauty. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing your images and reading your comments.

Keep up the good work.
Jim

Good news, now if my hands will cooperate, I will be delicate, when I get my order...

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Originally Posted by Jim Noel

Being slightly incapacitated at the moment I have read this entire thread as well as the other thread concerning x-ray film. When I read the comments by people who appear to have the greatest knowledge and most experience I come up with the conclusion that the only reason for stripping film is to eliminate scratches on the reverse side which are generally caused by poor film handling techniques.

I know some will argue with is that they have good techniques and still get scratches, but if I were able to watch them in action I have little doubt that I could point out their faults in film handling techniques. During my time as a teacher for over 60 years I have been able to make such observations for more than a few people.

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I might add, I really appreciate the large images shared, far more inspirational than little ones...

Thanks Sergei, you are very generous indeed!

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Originally Posted by Jim Noel

Sergei,
this is another of your beautiful images. Yes I can see


where you might have a concern or two, most of the people these images have appeared on this thread would be more than happy to have this image as their own.

You are the one of the people to whom I was referring in my previous reply as being an experienced and careful worker. Your attention to detail in every aspect of your work lends to its technical excellence as well as its beauty. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing your images and reading your comments.

Keep up the good work.
Jim

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Originally Posted by Jim Noel

So far I've read 364 of inches in this thread. The discussion goes back and forth between stripping and not stripping. My overall observation is that the more experienced workers like Jim Fitzgerald prefer not to strip. I agree with him. The only reason I can see for stripping is careless handling of the film.

Perhaps workers won't and began using large-format film the last 20 or 25 years never learned how to handle film without scratching it. Those of us who go back to the 1930s well remember how easy it was to scratch the film, and this film had no emulsion on the base side.

I presume that most scratches, or at least many of them, a curve while sliding the film into the holder. I was taught at a very young age to never do that. My method involves removing the dark slide completely then slipping as much of one long edge under a lip as possible, then by putting a slight bow into the film pop the other edge under the other lip. Then it is necessary to all slide the film a fraction of an inch in order to have it seated correctly. Frankly, I'm at a loss to understand how people slide 8 x 10, 7 x 17, or other large film into the holder. I've never tried to do so.

I realize that some scratching occurs during processing, but also notice that the careful experienced workers don't have a problem.

Think about your film handling and how it might be improved.
I hope this helps.

Jim

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Maybe a little history on stripping is in order . . .

Back in '09 I had noticed that there were quite a few discussions on the forum about scratches on the back-side emulsion of x-ray film. I made it a personal challenge, and in short I tested the first household chemical I thought would do the job. And there you have it. A simple, and relatively safe process to remove those unsightly scratches. That was easy. But, my reason for removing the back-side emulsion quickly evolved from disposing with the occasional scratch, to removing bromide drag marks caused by drum processing, to reducing the density of some negatives allowing for easy printing. When I originally brought it to the forum I never dictated that stripping was designed for a single purpose. And I definitely never intended stripping to be a point of contention, especially after 3 plus years. I just threw it out there expecting that it would be improved upon. Though on some level, I am glad to see it's still has a place.


Yeh, I'm still with the living.:cool: Cheers! Dann

Glad you like it folks. Forum helped (and helps still ) me a lot, in understanding mechanics of LF , as i never been educated on how to actually do whole thing - so i appreciate every bit of intel i can get here, and it just beacons me to share results and show what i got using what i learned here. E.g i wouldnt ever even thought about trying xray if it werent for it. Hell, i probably wouldnt ever have guts to try LF if it werent for it :)

It is so nice to have a viable alternative to traditional film and everyone is trying to do their thing with it. If I was a sliver printer then maybe I'd try stripping and everything. But as a carbon printer with exposures on the NuArc around 15-20 minutes I love the dense negs I get with x-ray film..... and the images especially portraits. I may have to try to cut some down for the 8x20 soon just to see if I can do it without scratching and if I do scratch it then I'll strip it. What is not to like.

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Originally Posted by Jim Fitzgerald

It is so nice to have a viable alternative to traditional film and everyone is trying to do their thing with it. If I was a sliver printer then maybe I'd try stripping and everything. But as a carbon printer with exposures on the NuArc around 15-20 minutes I love the dense negs I get with x-ray film..... and the images especially portraits. I may have to try to cut some down for the 8x20 soon just to see if I can do it without scratching and if I do scratch it then I'll strip it. What is not to like.

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Jim, just out of curiosity . . . could you not achieve the same "density" with regular film?

Yes I get even greater density with my now gone Efke 25. It is nice to have a film that has a different "look" than traditional film.