HP5+ fogged by xrays?

[malinmalin]

What are the telltale effects on film that has been zapped with too much
xrays? I have ~10 rolls of HP5+ that went into my checked luggage all
the way and back from SE Asia a few weeks ago.

The first roll I finally had time to process this week was not completely exposed
and the unexposed frames show a lot of uniform, very dense fog all over which
is also visible between the exposed frames, something that I have never seen
before using my usual dev recipe.
Does xray fogging produce 'hot-spots' or is it very uniform?

Trying to figure out what went wrong...
jf

 

[2F/2F]

X-rayed film could have a variety of odd marks, streaks, hot spots, and overall higher level of fog, higher grain...you name it.

It is not that likely in carry-on bags. But with checked luggage, which uses stronger beams of rays, and a high-speed film like HP5, it is likely you will have some effects from the X-rays.

 

[Ian Grant]

My HP-5 went through the scanners for hand baggage about 15 times on a trip to Chile & Peru last Oct/Nov with no problems.

I'd expect problems if it went in the checked baggage in the hold, and all manufacturers warn against carrying that way.

Ian

 

[malinmalin]

Film went through checked bags, not carry-on.

Anyways, I'll process more rolls over the weekend and I'll know for sure.
Just to reiterate: the fog is very uniform all over the frames...


cheers, jf

 

[Neal]

Dear jf,

Did security force you to put the film in your checked baggage? This could be a real problem if it is required on international flights.

Look here for examples of X-Ray fogging: http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/publications/tib5201.jhtml

Neal Wydra

 

[malinmalin]

Dear jf,

Did security force you to put the film in your checked baggage? This could be a real problem if it is required on international flights.

Look here for examples of X-Ray fogging: http://www.kodak.com/global/en/service/publications/tib5201.jhtml

Neal Wydra

Nope, no one forced me, it was my own stupid idea
However I was once denied to have a hand-inspection
of my carry-on rolls at Heathrow Airport and was forced
to have them x-rayed/scanned...

Looking at the Kodak examples gives me hope as
there is no banding, etc on the neg....

regards, jf

 

[Saganich]

The X-ray will cause more uniform fogging with density variation due to scatter. The luggage scanners for checked bags can ruin film on one pass, if they stop for a second look forgetaboutit, they can focus on particular items in your luggage especially anything electronic looking, once that happens any film in the bag is toast. Even at a low energy like 70KeV the dose to your bag will increase from about 0.2 cGy/sec (rad/sec) at 200cm to 7.0 cGy/sec (rad/sec) at 30 cm, and they get in closer then that. It is likely that your checked luggage will be exposed to greater then 30 cGy/sec (rad/sec) and if they dwell on something in there...well you get the idea.

The carry on luggage scanner is a weak 70KeV or so X-ray which is attenuated by .5mm lead equivalent sheath. At that X-ray energy and distance the tin of the film will likely attenuate 50% of the exposure anyway which is why you should be careful with 120 roll film. I would expect that without the tin can 120 film may not stand too many passes.

 

[eddym]

At that X-ray energy and distance the tin of the film will likely attenuate 50% of the exposure anyway which is why you should be careful with 120 roll film. I would expect that without the tin can 120 film may not stand too many passes.

What "tin can"?? :confused: