X-ray film exposure

I recently acquire a small amount, 2pc to be exact, of x-ray film. I planned to

use it for some experimentation using a pinhole set up. However, I got some

question I need help with. Hopefully you all can help me..

 

 

i. what is the ISO like for the film? It's a fuji brand medical x-ray film.

 

 

ii. if it's double emulsion, does that mean I have to expose both sides? If so,

would I create an overlapping image similar to multiple exposures?

 

 

iii. how long to develope it in Ilford HC? I have read some saying 20mins, some

saying 5min.

i. Generally "highspeed" Xray film is about 50ASA, although I don't specifically know about

Fuji.

 

ii. No, expose only one side. Since it is double sided some of the light will pass through

the film and expose the other side. Consequently you will loose a bit of sharpness, but I

suppose for pinhole this wouldn't matter much. It might make sense to mark to notch it,

so you know which side you exposed. This may improve sharpness a bit.

 

iii. It would be easiest to develop by inspection; use a red (not orange/amber) safelight

and develop until it looks right.

Try and "develop" a contact at an x-ray lab (hospital,clinic etc) and run the film through their processor. I used to be able to get ultra-sound film in 8x10. I would expose it at about ISO 200 and just run it through the clinic's processor. It would come out dry in 90 sec! I still have some and now take it to a comercial lab snd process it like Tri-X. It seems to work well. Some of the images on my website were done this way. X-Ray film is likely to be optimised for a narrow spectral response (really "ortho"). Get more film and find what works!

 

Drew Bedo

www.quietlightphoto.com

I use the Kodak Green film and rate it at ISO 200. I develope mine in Beutler High Def. Developer mixed at 1:1:16. If I use it at normal dilution 1:1:8, the negitives were too dense to print. The double sided emultion does give a bit of softness but not very much. Very good for portraits. Best thing agout using it it is CHEAP.

Leslie, how do you like the green film vs blue?

 

I realize ortho film predates panchro and people used it successfully for many years. Some people these days talk about ortho's differences as though they were problems (blue skies, limited, or at least different, contrast filter options).

 

I wonder if the green ortho xray films respond 'better' to grass, leaves, etc...and I vaguely recall a suggestion to use a green filter with panchro film for some kind of complexion in portraiture.

 

Thanks

 

 

Oh,I just bought some green xray film...hence my focused curiosity.

 

Murray