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

[Jim Noel]

I get that, but I’m hoping putting rubylith on it will tame it. As is, it works perfectly (5 minute penny test) on Ilford paper, but it burns the film with less that 30 seconds exposure.

I believe it has some of the yellow part of the spectrum. To me, it isn't worth fooling with. I would get one meant for film, x-ray or orthochromatic.

[Jim Noel]

This pictogram is printed onto the back of Carestream (and Kodak) X-ray film packs. Can somebody explain to me what it means? Obviously I have never opened a pack. What does avait me? Are the sheets individually packed in a foil that needs to be opened? And than put back in the bag?

Attachment 219597

It illustrates the proper way to open the film package, withdraw film and then fold it so it is once again lightproof.

[Corran]

My bulb is about 6 ft from the work space in a simple metal domed light clamp pointed away from the work area that looks like this:

I wouldn't be taping the rubylith to the bulb itself, but to the perimeter of the metal dish.

Gotcha. Still not sure what the issue could be. My two bulbs above the developer aren't causing issues (with Fuji HR-U as well).

[Tin Can]

They upgraded the red bulb from my originals

1 watt became 2 watt

Gotcha. Still not sure what the issue could be. My two bulbs above the developer aren't causing issues (with Fuji HR-U as well).

[Corran]

Interesting! Any idea when the change happened?

[abruzzi]

I'll do a more careful test this weekend, but I had the same problem when I first built my darkroom ~4 years ago. I had some hand-me-down old expired Forte paper, and that fogged badly with the LEDs, but the new Ilford paper works perfectly. I like the LED, it makes the room visible, whereas the other safelight is pretty hard for me to use.

[Tin Can]

no

one day I ordered more, checked online spec and saw the change

they say nothing

and I cannot tell the difference between 1 or 2 watt by eye, no markings

I like to sprinkle them all over my Dark Home

Interesting! Any idea when the change happened?

[Eugen Mezei]

A local doctor was upgrading to digital and couldn't find anyone to dispose of the old stuff, so I loaded it all into my car. Dropped the chemicals off at the hazmat facility, kept the film. 150 sheets 10"x12", expired 2014. Cut down to 4x5 with a Dahle rolling trimmer.

It would have been a good idea to test those chemicals. Often surplus film comes with surplus chemicals and it could be usefull it somebody already tested those chemicals. Especially as the data sheets of X-ray film and chemicals use criptical parameters (like develop it in developing machine Kodak type ..., develop so when used with luminescent foil of type a and different for type b). Would be nice to translate those parameters to the ones we use (delta, gamma, shoulder, toe, etc.)

[Tin Can]

If you read the originators of this thread from day one, they used far different parameters than some of us do now

Such as ISO

[Jim Noel]

Some of us have been using x-ray film since long before it became popular because of price. I discovered it when other orthochromatic films became more and more difficult to find. one box which I am still sing has a use before date of 12/1971. Good stuff.