I may have read this before and have several old Macro books

I just reread it and more is sinking in

https://www.largeformatphotography.info/macro.html


I NOW realize I was doing Macro with stereo Nikon microscope for decades at work

I strained my eyes looking for tiny metal failure cracks and later we output to 4X5 Polaroid

We used Light Tubes as described in the Ernest Purdum 2004 LFPF article Link above

RIP Ernerst Purdum - his work and manuscript SP from OP

I am setting up more 8X10 X-Ray Macro today