Comparison of four paper imaging techniques : β-radiography, electrography, light transmission, and soft X-radiography

Abstract

Four paper imaging techniques (beta-radiography, electrography, light transmission, and soft X-radiography) were compared in terms of their process parameters and image characteristics (exposure time, spatial variation, contrast, spatial resolution, correlation with mass, and limitation in basis weight range) with the same newsprint samples and the same electron microscope film. Electrography gave a higher spatial resolution, shorter exposure time, and the wider basis weight range than beta-radiography. The light transmission image could be obtained in a very short time, but it gave the poorest spatial resolution and correlation with mass. Soft X-radiography gave the highest spatial resolution but the poorest spatial variation and contrast.