The process of producing these radiographs is challenging. The equipment used for floral images is very different from traditional medical x-ray equipment in that it is comprised of various components obtained from discarded equipment, whereas, for the shells and tin toys, I am using traditional medical equipment. High speed photographic films and medical mammography film is used. The specimen is placed directly on top of the film in the position required to see the image. An x-ray tube is placed directly above the specimen. An appropriate energy ranging from 4KV to 150KV (KV is 1,000 volts) is applied to the tube resulting in exposures ranging from half a second to 15 minutes. These radiographic negatives are developed in the traditional photographic method using a higher contrast developer. The resulting negatives have a very long tonal scale and are not well suited to the traditional photographic print process. Because of this, I will then take the negative, make a very high resolution digital scan, and make refinements on my computer. The resulting file is then printed using a digital archival carbon printing system. The images produced are 100% carbon pigment based printed on the highest quality acid-free rag watercolor paper. The pigments contain no dyes which results in a truly archival print with exquisite tonality and color. These prints have been referred to as a modern-day gravure process. They have a greater longevity than traditional silver gelatin prints. Tests have indicated a life span of greater than 100 years.

- Don Dudenbostel