Digitising of X-rays
The first consideration is what size, how many, and purpose for which
the digitised X-rays are required.
If the X-rays are of a small size then I recommend that you look at the
website of the Centre of Microscopic Imaging at the University of Illinois
College of Veterinary Medicine as they have a page on scanning X-ray
plate film at { HYPERLINK http://treefrog.cvm.uiuc.edu/PLT_Xray.html }http://treefrog.cvm.uiuc.edu/PLT_Xray.html However, their
X-rays (of DNA, RNA and protein blots) are of a size which will fit in the
transparency scanner of their chosen scanner, the Agfa Duoscan. If the
X-rays are larger then you will need to consider whether you need to buy
a dedicated X-ray scanner - very expensive - which is the reason for
asking how many you need to digitise. Another problem is that I rather
think that the X-rays may be larger than the average size scanner and A3
sized scanners are quite expensive. When you scan a film -whether,
negative, positive, or X-ray, it needs to be illuminated from above, unlike
scanning a photograph which is lit by reflected light from the scanners
itself. If you are trying to do the job with very limited funds, then it may
be possible to construct a “light box” to go over the top of the glass
plate of the scanner – you would need some sort of “cold” illumination -
and it may be necessary to experiment.
I asked about the purpose for which the digitisation is needed. I assume
that it is for teaching rather than for diagnostic use. The reason for
saying this is simply that it might well be that artefacts could be
introduced into the final result - dirt on the scanner glass, dust etc - and
then what about enhancement? In most cases there is no problem in the
outcome of enhancing a digitised image. The image is an “improvement”
on the original - e.g. sharper print, detail showing clearly which was not
clear in the original. But presumably x-rays have to be an absolute copy
or the original? But, there again, copying tends to increase contrast,
even if slightly. I trust this is of some help, even if it has posed more
questions than answers.
Eric Jukes
Barnet College
|