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

[Philippe Grunchec]

Here in Europe we only get the 18x24cm version, that's why I was asking! I'd love to get it in 8x10"...

[senderoaburrido]

Green is orthochromatic, blue is just blue-sensitive. That should make a huge difference in tonality. Anyway, just ordered some green Fujifilm from ZZ. Worst case scenario will have lots of practice film.

It really does seem to depend. I've looked at the spectral sensitivity charts for Ektascan B/RA and UM-MA (a supposedly green-sensitive mammography film), and both are almost identical across the graph, despite differences in the way they are advertised. I would assume that HR-U and others are very similar. I'm currently awaiting a test box of some expired UM-MA, which should be in the mail right now. If it works out, I'll let everyone here know.

Fujifilm UM-MA is, by case, slightly cheaper than Ektascan B/RA. It has roughly the same spectral sensitivity, and possesses single-sided emulsion The only major disadvantage is that it comes in 18x24cm or 24x30cm sheets. This means that one has to cut it down rather wastefully, if they are turning it into 4x5 sheets. At 427$ for a case of 24x30cm sheets, it will work out to being about .30 CAD per sheet before shipping, which beats Ektascan B/RA by 2 cents CAD per cut-down 4x5 sheet.

Look for Agfa Mamoray HDR-C Plus...its single sided. Looks like it comes in 24x30 cm.

Agfa Mamoray, as I discovered, does have a different spectral sensitivity profile. You can see it here: https://medimg.agfa.com/dach/wp-cont...R-C_Plus-3.pdf. For normal photographic purposes, it should not be very different from any of the others, excepting that it is much less sensitive to UV light. This may prove to be an advantage for many of you. In my case, this is actually a problem.

[Tin Can]

What is your supplier?

Does UM-MA have anti-halation layer?

It really does seem to depend. I've looked at the spectral sensitivity charts for Ektascan B/RA and UM-MA (a supposedly green-sensitive mammography film), and both are almost identical across the graph, despite differences in the way they are advertised. I would assume that HR-U and others are very similar. I'm currently awaiting a test box of some expired UM-MA, which should be in the mail right now. If it works out, I'll let everyone here know.

Fujifilm UM-MA is, by case, slightly cheaper than Ektascan B/RA. It has roughly the same spectral sensitivity, and possesses single-sided emulsion The only major disadvantage is that it comes in 18x24cm or 24x30cm sheets. This means that one has to cut it down rather wastefully, if they are turning it into 4x5 sheets. At 427$ for a case of 24x30cm sheets, it will work out to being about .30 CAD per sheet before shipping, which beats Ektascan B/RA by 2 cents CAD per cut-down 4x5 sheet.




Agfa Mamoray, as I discovered, does have a different spectral sensitivity profile. You can see it here: https://medimg.agfa.com/dach/wp-cont...R-C_Plus-3.pdf. For normal photographic purposes, it should not be very different from any of the others, excepting that it is much less sensitive to UV light. This may prove to be an advantage for many of you. In my case, this is actually a problem.

[senderoaburrido]

What is your supplier?

Does UM-MA have anti-halation layer?

If I recall correctly from the datasheet I found, it does. ZZ Medical sells it, only by the case.

[Tin Can]

I doubt it does, I read the Data sheet, no mention

Ektascan was made for photographing CRT screens, anti-halation would be good for that, not sure if Mammography screens would need or want it

https://www.breastcancer.org/symptom...mmograms/types

Nonetheless, the ZZ price is good, but the wait is long

I now worry any business may disappear shortly, every $$$ counts now

If I recall correctly from the datasheet I found, it does. ZZ Medical sells it, only by the case.

[seezee]

Green is orthochromatic, blue is just blue-sensitive. That should make a huge difference in tonality. Anyway, just ordered some green Fujifilm from ZZ. Worst case scenario will have lots of practice film.

+1 on this.

[senderoaburrido]

I doubt it does, I read the Data sheet, no mention

Ektascan was made for photographing CRT screens, anti-halation would be good for that, not sure if Mammography screens would need or want it

https://www.breastcancer.org/symptom...mmograms/types

Nonetheless, the ZZ price is good, but the wait is long

I now worry any business may disappear shortly, every $$$ counts now

I'm happy to say that you're incorrect. It's on the datasheet.




I also found a paper where B/RA and UM-MA are directly compared (https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/12529443.pdf), which does buttress my case that they are probably roughly analogous. I encourage anyone to review the datasheets of both. Their spectral sensitivity profiles are nearly identical. By most metrics they are analogous, save for the formats they come in.

[Tin Can]

Good news

Thank you

I'm happy to say that you're incorrect. It's on the datasheet.




I also found a paper where B/RA and UM-MA are directly compared (https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/12529443.pdf), which does buttress my case that they are probably roughly analogous. I encourage anyone to review the datasheets of both. Their spectral sensitivity profiles are nearly identical. By most metrics they are analogous, save for the formats they come in.

[senderoaburrido]

As for the wait at ZZ, I called them and specifically asked about this film. They told me that the wait time posted on their site was inaccurately long.

[senderoaburrido]

Here are the two spectral sensitivity graphs side-by-side.