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

[Andrew O'Neill]

I have a bright amber safelight. No worries with Ektascan and green double-sided.

[premortho]

Some time ago I bought a 110-120 volt red led. Works perfect with all ortho films I've tried in the last 5 years. When I bought this bulb, I first checked the spectral out put of the bulb to make sure none of the films I use can "see" this red light.

I have a bright amber safelight. No worries with Ektascan and green double-sided.

[Peter De Smidt]

Some time ago I bought a 110-120 volt red led. Works perfect with all ortho films I've tried in the last 5 years. When I bought this bulb, I first checked the spectral out put of the bulb to make sure none of the films I use can "see" this red light.

That's what I use as well. They weren't very expensive, they're bright, and they don't fog ortho material.

[Tin Can]

I seem to remember, but can't find now, people talking about what kind of darkroom light people use for xray film on this thread. I hear it's really sensitive and you need a very faint light... any recommendations?

Ektascan is extremely red blind, last week I shot outside in full sun with a red filter and Ektascan recorded absolutely nothing.

I forgot which film was in the holder...

Red LED works great. I use these in RED. https://www.superbrightleds.com/more.../attributes/13

[mdarnton]

Don't bother with anything else! Randy recommended these, I got a couple, and they're both bright AND safe.

[Tin Can]

Easy to cut X-Ray up under these Red LED's.

Today I am cutting Ektascan into 63 mm squares to use in Hasselblad sheet film holders.

I can't decide if we need a new thread to discuss small sheet X-Ray usage. Seems to me very few people would see or contribute to another thread...

[stiganas]

I cut Xray green for Mamiya RB67 sheet holders (Type A and J), for an old Kodak 620 and a Zeiss Tengor. I think the grain of the Xray is a little bit to big for the small sheets (but for the Kodak and Tengor doesn't matter).

Working under a cheap red led with no problems.

Easy to cut X-Ray up under these Red LED's.

Today I am cutting Ektascan into 63 mm squares to use in Hasselblad sheet film holders.

I can't decide if we need a new thread to discuss small sheet X-Ray usage. Seems to me very few people would see or contribute to another thread...

[Karasugoi]

Ektascan is extremely red blind, last week I shot outside in full sun with a red filter and Ektascan recorded absolutely nothing.

I forgot which film was in the holder...

Red LED works great. I use these in RED. https://www.superbrightleds.com/more.../attributes/13

Oh that's great Randy, thank you. I'll check these out.

So basically it doesn't really matter what red light you use? Since I don't have too much experience using this film I don't want to accidentally expose it with the wrong darkroom light. This has happened to me using some alternative processes.

An LED seems pretty bright to me. Randy if you have had a good run with these, that's good enough for me.

[mdarnton]

It does matter. I bought a red incandescent from the hardware store and that didn't work at all. Randy's light is a sure thing, though. Other LEDs haven't worked always for people here. Apparently there are several different types that look identical but aren't.

[Tin Can]

Oh that's great Randy, thank you. I'll check these out.

So basically it doesn't really matter what red light you use? Since I don't have too much experience using this film I don't want to accidentally expose it with the wrong darkroom light. This has happened to me using some alternative processes.

An LED seems pretty bright to me. Randy if you have had a good run with these, that's good enough for me.

I can only recommend the red LED's I have linked to here.

I would not trust and have no experience with other red bulbs.

Yes, I find them bright enough to cut film and not fingers.