ACVR Artifacts
Automatic Film Processing
Clifford R. Berry, DVM
Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Tennessee
Veterinary Specialists Center, Maitland, FL
Automatic Processors
Automatic
processors will
run a sheet of
film through the
developer, fixer
and washing
tanks and a
drying rack
Automatic Processors
Transport system (wet and dry)
Re-circulation system
Replenishment system
Temperature (Heating) system
Filtration
Automatic Processor
Wet Tanks
Developer - first
Fixer - second
Wash - third
Planetary (1 inch transport)
Solar rollers (2 inch turnaround)
Guideshoes
Squeegees
Crossover assemblies
 Developer-to-fix
 Fix-to-wash
 Wash-to-dry
Steps in Film Processing
Step
Purpose
Manual
(Time)
Automatic
(time)
Wetting
Swelling of the emulsion to permit
subsequent chemical penetration
12 s
_
Development
Production of a manifest image from
the latent image
5 min
22 s
Stop Bath
Termination of the development and
removal of excess chemical from the
emulsion
30 s
_
Fixing
Removal of remaining silver halide
from the emulsion and hardening of the
gelatin
Removal of Excess Chemicals
15 min
22 s
20 min
20 s
Removal of water and preparation of
the radiograph for viewing
30 min
26 s
Washing
Drying
Automatic Processor Artifacts
Density differences
Positive
Developer stage (pressure or mishandling after
exposure)
Negative
Fixer or wash stages
Seen easily in reflected light - wash rack or dryer
assembly; particulate debris from any roller
Automatic Processor Artifacts
Parallel to Film Travel
Entrance/exit roller mark (-)
Entrance roller fog/pressure (marks, +)
Guide shoe marks
(+) - developer or developer-to-fix crossover
(-) - fixer turnaround or fix-to-wash crossover
Delay streaks (+)
Automatic Processor Artifacts
Perpendicular to Film Travel
Slap Lines - trailing edge (+)
Stub or Hesitation lines (+)
Chatter (+)
Pi Lines (+)
Developer roller (1 inch diameter planetary
rollers)
2πr = 3.14” apart
Curtain run back - (+), trailing edge of film
Automatic Processor Artifacts
Random Artifacts
Drying patterns/Spots
Wet pressure marks
Emulsion pick off
Lack of normal filtration
Replenishment pump failure
Re-circulation pump failure
Exhausted or lack of chemical replacement
Entrance Roller Fog/Pressure
Ribbed rollers
Determine length of film
Activates Replenishment pump
Entrance Roller Marks
Parallel Film Travel
Scratches on emulsion
Negative density
Underexposed/Normal
Development
Guide Shoe Pressure/Scratches
Positive density
Perpendicular to Film
Travel
Turn around shoe developer (bottom of film)
Developer-to-fix crossover
(top of film)
Guide Shoe Pressure/Scratches
Negative density
Top of Film - Fix-to-wash
crossover
Bottom of Film - Fixer
turnaround guide shoe
Pi Lines - 3.14” Apart
Curtain Run Back
Trailing Edge
Single Emulsion Film
Developer Squeegee
Positive Density Curtain
Bottom side of Film
Cold Developer
Chatter
Delay Streaks
Slap Lines
Film Overlap
Hesitation Marks/Squeegee Action