DWThomas
Subscriber
Damage was my primary concern about the double sided emulsion. Some using the film for photographic use say it's very soft. That could be partially a consequence of different chemistry and pH I suppose. The emulsion is reasonably tough after it's dried, but my understanding is development in those trays with ridges or other patterns in the bottom could cause damage. If one tries to cut it prior to development; e.g., make four 4x5s out an 8x10 handling can be a little touchy. I've done it with one of those office guillotine cutters using a sheet of clean paper under the film, but that's not a regular thing.So how does the double sided emulsion affect your photos? Just curious. Is it more difficult to print/enlarge, or to scan? Or are you worried more about scratching the emulsion? I'm just wondering because when these films are used for their intended purpose and developed as designed the emulsion itself is quite difficult to damage. I've been thinking about using it cut down in a pinhole camera and then processing it at work. one 8x12 sheet should get me four 4x5 photos (coincidentally filling two toyo film holders just perfectly).
There are those who say the double layer reduces sharpness -- maybe if one is shooting with a lens that could be seen. I'm not bothered by it for pinhole work. There are people who strip the emulsion off one side, but wow, no, not this guy!
Since I mostly shoot the X-ray film in 8x10, I just contact print it. My ancient Epson 3200 can scan transparencies up to 4x9 inches which works for 4x5 if desired, but that's my scan limit. (Yeah, s'pose I could torment myself with two scans and stitching, but ...) I have "scanned" by using "the other technology" to photograph the negatives on a light box with some success. But for rare occasions of actually exhibiting the work, I do contact prints. I created a masking arrangement that can plant an 8x10 on a chunk of 11x14 paper so one can see the entire negative, rebates and all (something I do not generally do otherwise). There's a bit about that exercise in one of my PBase galleries. (Backing up a level in that hierarchy will get you to pretty much everything lens-less I've done "in modern times.")
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