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

[Derek Kennedy]

That photo looks great! Thanks for the dilution and time ( and EI, developer).

Im honestly not sure if it is Fuji? I guess i could ask the, to be certain. Might make it easier to get developing info if i knew exactly what it was.

Thanks again

Derek

[Corran]

Thanks! If it's Agfa, Kodak, or something else entirely, all bets are off - but that might get you in the ballpark. I would shoot 3-4 sheets of a scene under normal light and develop each one and adjust as necessary until you get it close to the right contrast ratio and shadow values. I don't use HC-110 at all but Rodinal works real well, especially at higher dilutions.

Another thing to consider is that the film is very prone to scratching so be careful. What method are you using for developing?

Finally, some of us (me included) strip one side of the film with bleach, to get rid of the emulsion on that side - which gives slightly sharper results with less density. It also makes tube development possible (it scratches the rear emulsion up pretty bad, so you just bleach it away, so no scratches).

[Heespharm]

Thanks! If it's Agfa, Kodak, or something else entirely, all bets are off - but that might get you in the ballpark. I would shoot 3-4 sheets of a scene under normal light and develop each one and adjust as necessary until you get it close to the right contrast ratio and shadow values. I don't use HC-110 at all but Rodinal works real well, especially at higher dilutions.

Another thing to consider is that the film is very prone to scratching so be careful. What method are you using for developing?

Finally, some of us (me included) strip one side of the film with bleach, to get rid of the emulsion on that side - which gives slightly sharper results with less density. It also makes tube development possible (it scratches the rear emulsion up pretty bad, so you just bleach it away, so no scratches).

Do you bleach before or after development

[Corran]

After. Usually right after fixing and washing while it's still wet.

[Derek Kennedy]

I was considering using hangers. my understanding is that using a red safety light I should be able to see what im doing instead of being in complete darkness of tray developing? I've read that tray development was not recommended.

Not sure I will attempt bleaching process until later. One step at a time.

Excellent point shooting multiple sheets, didnt think of that.

I more than likely will be waiting for things to warm up here as the cold temps are well...cold. been -20 to -37C the last month or so, and even colder with the wind. So I think I will be waiting until spring or at least doing some indoor shots (window lit mostly), as I cant stand not being able to take photos. I even started to try my hand at 8x10 paper negs to chase away the winter blues (or is that grays).

Thanks for your reply. You're giving me great information/recommendations which is why I came here in the first place.

Derek

[Corran]

I just developed 10 sheets in trays. Definitely no problem there. Personally I actually had fogging issues with my safelight for the first time ever but I think that's due to the red filter pulling away a bit from the front and having a sliver of yellowish light slipping through. Anyway, I don't use tanks or hangers for 8x10 so I can't comment on that.

That is pretty cold...good luck!

[UlbabraB]

Certosa di Ferrara - 1 by Filippo Natali, on Flickr

5x7" Matte albumen print (Zoe Zimmerman recipe, gold toned) on Fabriano Artistico paper from a Kodak T-Mat negative developed in Pyrocat-HD (EI 80, dilution 1+1+100, 9' in tray with continous gentle agitation)

[Chauncey Walden]

I'm finally getting closer to a normally printable neg. I had to go to tray development for the double sided after giving up on the Jobo. I couldn't get to a point with the Jobo where the back side would be developed evenly and even with the tray have to swap sides several times during development. I ended up at an EI of 64 to get full shadow detail and have been fighting the rapid contrast build up to stop it when the highlight details are there without blowing them out. Finally I resorted to a variation of Jim Galli's ortho-litho developer that pairs dilute Rodinal (1:200) with some restrainers (kind of like POTA) and used one of the Randy's mentioned superbright LEDs to check it. Not used to developing by inspection I let it go slightly too long and as a result it printed on grade 1 1/2. I just need to drop that time a couple of minutes to bring the contrast down a bit. With the single sided in the Jobo I am using dilute PMK (1:2:200) and I pulled the last test too soon and had to print on grade 4. I just need to add a few minutes to that one to bring the contrast up. If I were scanning the negs I could play games but I'm not.

[ndg]

Certosa di Ferrara - 1 by Filippo Natali, on Flickr

5x7" Matte albumen print (Zoe Zimmerman recipe, gold toned) on Fabriano Artistico paper from a Kodak T-Mat negative developed in Pyrocat-HD (EI 80, dilution 1+1+100, 9' in tray with continous gentle agitation)

Nicely done!

[premortho]

I develop by inspection under a LED red safelight. In trays. I use a water bath rinse. I prefer to develop at 65 degrees, rather than the 68 usually reccomended for pan films. I use Rodinal at 1 - 100. The water bath rinse allows the developer to work the shadows a little more, if you don't agitate the rinse. This is one of the oldest techniques in photography. My grand father started doing it this way in 1894, taught it to me in the 1940's, and I've used it ever since for ortho films, like X-ray film. I've tried other methods from time to time, but this is the easiest way to get good results. No mumbo-jumbo about trying to figure out development times, like you have to with pan films. Just use a light meter to get into the ballpark, remember to add one more stop of light per hour before and after 10.00 AM and 3.00 PM, and you will be very close to there.

Im not sure if i posted this on this site, or somewhere else, or if i just thought I did, but I got some 4x5 green x-ray film from the FPP.

Im seeing a wide range of dev times even with the same dilutions/developers. Id like to try my hand at this film this spring but as mentioned, such a wide range of times Im not sure where to start. Might even try some still life shots with it since its *way* too cold for me to venture outside with a camera.

All i have at hand for developers is HC-110 and Rodinal.

What do the x-ray guru's here at LFP suggest? Any help/guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Derek