 Irene Troy |
X-Ray images Okay – so I get myself into some odd situations from time to time…I know this, and here I am again, asking for help/ideas with something I’ve never seen here: I have a client who wants me to include some X-ray images in the project I’m developing. The images are x-rays of fossils and other “remains”. I need to photograph the damn things and have no clue as to how to do this. I’ve thought of scanning them – but do not know if that would work. Can anyone point me in the right direction with this? Thanks folks Irene
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Mark Feldstein |
Hey You !!! This doesn't seem odd, at least for you. But for this, depending on the size of the film, you might just have a light box that will fit and photograph them on a lightbox. Or, it might be easier for you to just ask your family doctor if you can use theirs (in the office) and set a tripod up and again, shoot them on the box. OR, (door #3) any clinic, hospital, etc., should have a box large enough to display the film in full view or just do sections of the highlights. Remember these boxes are flourescents that could be a bunch of different color temperatures, so beware of color shifting and white balance (especially if they mixed different tube types in the same box).
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Alan N. Marcus |
Hi Irene, Mark, as always is 100% on target. I had a similar task a while ago. I hung the x-rays on a string via clothespins. Behind the x-ray I hung white poster paper. Using pin-up lamps I illumined the poster paper. Next I set my digital camera to black & white mode. With the flash canceled I was able to copy the x-rays by just hand-holding the camera. They came out nice. You can do this outside on the clothesline. Just have someone hold white paper or white reflector material up behind the x-ray film. Try and space the white background material and the x-ray film. Space insures the white background is totally out of focus. If your camera does not have a black & white mode, you can use your editing software, surely it allows monochromatic rendering. Best of luck, Alan Marcus
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Mark Feldstein |
One additional thought along the lines of what Alan mentioned. I suppose you could just hang the film on a window, use short depth of field and shoot it that way. The problem with that I think is twofold: First, depending on how the window is situated to the sunlight (your light source) your illumination may be uneven and produce hot spots. Second, Alan is right I think in that you want as clean a background as you can create. The white paper is ok, tissue paper might be better because it's more translucent, but ideally I've just shot "rays" on viewing boxes made for the purpose of illuminating film. And again, depending on the size of the film, they can produce a nice, evenly spaced clean white border to use as well. ;>)
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Irene Troy |
Thanks Mark and Alan – I knew I could count on you guys! I like the idea of using a light box, either the one I use for viewing slides or the one my client uses for viewing X-rays (environmental scientist). For the larger X-rays I might try your suggestion, Alan, and do them outside with either the poster/tissue paper or even a white sheet held taut. I use a Canon 5D so capturing and black and white won’t be an issue. Thanks again! Irene
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Alan N. Marcus |
X-ray films, like most films, are over coated with clear gelatin. This is a protective coat, it is highly reflective. When shooting (copying) try and avoid acquiring the reflections. A polarizing screen (filter) will help. Best done indoors using a viewer or illumined white paper background. Indoors, you can better control ambient light and minimize reflections. Good luck, Alan Marcus
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