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

[Daniel Unkefer]

Cesco flat bottomed trays are available from 5x7 to really big sizes (and specialties) through B&H and also Freestyle. Recently I bought all my 8x10 Cescos from B&H and I am thinking now about some bigger ones.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...ping_Tray.html

[ericantonio]

With the single side, I would think any tray would work for single side. But others have much more experience with X-ray.

It was hard for me to find the one sided. I really don't know what I'm purchasing. No experience with the film or the brands etc so I just got what a lot of people are using and its the Fuji HR-U. Thinking of cutting the corner so I know which side I've been using, shooting, developing, drying, then stripping the one side.

[Tin Can]

I don’t believe stripping is ever better

But I also never did it

2X was good enough for real X Rays

[Jim Noel]

It was hard for me to find the one sided. I really don't know what I'm purchasing. No experience with the film or the brands etc so I just got what a lot of people are using and its the Fuji HR-U. Thinking of cutting the corner so I know which side I've been using, shooting, developing, drying, then stripping the one side.

Don't strip the film! That is just wasting 50% of the density.

[Corran]

Test it!
I used to strip. It makes things more forgiving with regards to scratching.

I stopped because it was a PITA. As long as your exposure/development is done with stripping or not stripping in mind, I don't think it should make any appreciable difference.

I have not seen any explicit tests showing a reduced contrast curve for stripped vs. unstripped either.

[ericantonio]

Don't strip the film! That is just wasting 50% of the density.

Oh man! No way?! Hahah. As you can tell I'm just winging it. I'll have to try both non strip and strip

[ericantonio]

Test it!
I used to strip. It makes things more forgiving with regards to scratching.

I stopped because it was a PITA. As long as your exposure/development is done with stripping or not stripping in mind, I don't think it should make any appreciable difference.

I have not seen any explicit tests showing a reduced contrast curve for stripped vs. unstripped either.

It does look like a pain, I watched some vids. I'm guessing an ounce of prevention...(I don't know the rest of the saying cause by the time I heard the first part, I was rolling my eyes at my mom and stopped listening). I'm going to use this film for PT/PD testing. So I have lots to burn and make plenty of mistakes. I'm thinking of the 80/20 rule yah? I figure I can blow away 20% of the box for mistakes and testing.

You guys and your tips! You guys rock so much man.

[ericantonio]

Cesco flat bottomed trays are available from 5x7 to really big sizes (and specialties) through B&H and also Freestyle. Recently I bought all my 8x10 Cescos from B&H and I am thinking now about some bigger ones.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produ...ping_Tray.html

OH wow! I will need to return my Googlin PHD. I can't believe I didn't see that!!

I'm going to try something. Was reading about the "developing in a ziplock".

I just took a tray without ridges but rather has tunnels. Don't know what to call them, but they look like dug out hot dogs on the bottom of the tray. Well, I put some water down there just enough to cover it, then lined it with plastic wrap. Took a old test 8x10 sheet and sloshed it around on top of that with more liquid. I think it's gonna work.

Here is is horizontal: ^^^^^water^^^^sheet-of-plastic-wrap{~~~~~developer~~~~film~~~~developer}. The plastic wrap is to create a nice smooth bottom.

[Paul Kinzer]

Hey Folks,

I am (slowly) working to get into putting together a 14x17 dream. I just bought 200 sheets of film, to push me harder toward completion. I have lots of other bits of it: three lenses, the front standard (with a shutter), bellows, the wood and metal needed to make the camera, and an actual drawn plan for the camera. But I won't be able to make the actual camera for a bit yet, in large part because my son has taken over both my indoor (small) and garage (large) workshops.

What I do already have is a working darkroom (well, usually it's a bathroom, but I've made it easy to convert it). So I'd like to use my 5x7 kit to start experimenting with x-ray film. I have a couple of questions:

1. What is a good safelight to use with Fuji x-ray film? I read this whole thread, but that was nearly a year ago. I've tired searching, but am not succeeding in finding anything very helpful. A pointer to a thread, or actual suggestions would be great.

2. How difficult is it to cut x-ray film down? I am not seeing any 5x7 film for sale anywhere, but see good deals on other sizes. I could get 2 sheets out of one 8x10. Is this something others have done with success? Any suggestions for a specific cutter to use?

Thanks!

[Barry Kirsten]

Paul, I use these for safelights for x-ray film and paper: https://www.ebay.com/itm/24W-Deep-Re...72.m2749.l2649
I use the 660nm wavelength and find them perfectly safe. You need a driver (power supply) for them available from the same seller. The driver is different depending on whether you use a dimmer or not. I found that I needed a dimmer as my darkroom is small and the output of these units is very bright. I was erring on the side of caution in case there are small amounts of shorter wavelengths that may harm film/paper. With this configuration I have had no fogging of film or paper. For cutting film and paper I use a Dahl rotary trimmer.