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

[Raffay]

Is it possible to use X-ray film in 4x5. I have not seen it in 4x5 size. Also, I have seen people talking about green film, are there any particular types and also what does it mean when you say strip film?

Cheers
Raffay

[Petzval Paul]

Beautiful, Sergei! My favorite so far on this thread.

[SergeiR]

Beautiful, Sergei! My favorite so far on this thread.

thank you

[joselsgil]

Is it possible to use X-ray film in 4x5. I have not seen it in 4x5 size. Also, I have seen people talking about green film, are there any particular types and also what does it mean when you say strip film?

Cheers
Raffay

Raffay,

You can cut an 8X10" sheet of film into 4-4x5 sheets of film. Or buy some 5x7" film and cut it down to 4X5". Since you can work under a RED-safety light, at least you can see what you are doing.
You just have to be careful not to scratch the film.

There are several types of X-ray film. Green or Blue sensitive film and some are full speed or half speed. You will just need to play with the film and developers. There is a thread on this subject, on the forum that will give you hours of reading and viewing information

I have used Agfa half speed green sensitive film with mixed results. I rated the film at ISO 80 and tray developed in Pyro PMK. Unfortunately, I developed the film under very cold conditions and that may have contributed to the mixed results

Since X-ray film has emulsion on both side. One technique is to bleach one side of the developed sheet of film, after it has been developed and fixed. Like I said, you will need to play with this film. One good thing about the film, is that it is still inexpensive compared to panchromatic film.

Try and see if you can purchase film in Islamabad, from the same source as the local hospitals. You don't want to purchase film abroad and have it x-ray scanned by customs when it enters Pakistan as some scanners are very powerful and will expose the film for you.

Good luck,

Jose

[Jody_S]

Raffay,

You can cut an 8X10" sheet of film into 4-4x5 sheets of film. Or buy some 5x7" film and cut it down to 4X5". Since you can work under a RED-safety light, at least you can see what you are doing.
You just have to be careful not to scratch the film.

I have done this a few times, scratches aren't such a problem. The film is relatively normal when dry, it's when the film is wet that even the slightest contact with something edged, like the borders of another sheet of film, will cause horrible scratching. Developing in a 4x5 tank was relatively easy (FR-style), because the film is loaded dry, and can be washed in the same holders. So it is only removed to hang, and you have to be a bit of a screw-up to scratch the film while hanging it up to dry. I've done it, but only because I was screwing up.

[Jim Fitzgerald]

I put these in the flower thread but felt I should show them here as well. Both are shot on Blue x-ray @ 50, half speed BTW, developed in Pyrocat-HD 1;1:100 for 6 minutes and printed in carbon. Scans of the prints and not the negatives.

[jon.oman]

Lovely images Jim!

[Andrew O'Neill]

Very nice, Jim. Nice colour, too.

[rdelung]

Great shot. With the Rodinal at 1:60 for 12 min. What was your developer temp? I'm a x-ray film newbie, just gathering notes.
Thanks, RWDelung

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Thanks everyone. Andrew my own blend of pigments.