Use of radiation sources in Industrial Radiography is heavily regulated by state and federal organizations due to potential public and personal risks. Two of the most commonly used sources of radiation in industrial radiography are x-ray generators and gamma ray sources. Industrial radiography is often subdivided into "X-ray Radiography" or "Gamma Radiography", depending on the source of radiation used.
A device called a "camera" is used to store, transport and expose the pigtail containing the radioactive material. The camera contains shielding material which reduces the radiographer's exposure to radiation during use. A hose-like device called a guide tube is connected to a threaded hole called an "exit port" in the camera. The radioactive material will leave and return to the camera through this opening when performing an exposure!