RADIOGRAPHIC FILM
PROCESSING
DARKROOM
THE PROCESSING AREA
• PROCESSING AREA
• VIEWING SECTION
VIEWING AREA
PROCESSING AREA
VIEWING SECTION VIEWBOX ILLUMINATION
INTENSITY-500-1000 FOOT CANDLES
PHOTOMETER IS USED TO
MEASURE VIEWBOX
ILLUMINATION INTENSITY
VIEWING STATION
VIEWBOX LIGHT
IF ONE BULB IS BLOWN
ALL BULBS HAVE TO REPLACED
VIWBOXES
• TO BE CLEANED ONCE EVERY 6
MONTHS
• IF USED 24/7 – BULBS CHANGES
ONCE A YEAR
• IF USED 12/7 BULBS CHANGED ONCE
EVERY TWO YEARS
VIEWING AREA HOT LIGHT
MOST OF MODERN MEDICAL
IMAGING DEPARTMENTS USE
AUTOMATIC PROCESSORS—
MOST OF THOSE ARE
DAYLIGHT PROCESSORS
AUTOMATIC DAYLIGHT
PROCESSORS
AUTOMATIC DARKROOM
PROCESSORS
AUTOMATIC DARKROOM
PROCESSORS
MANUAL PROCESSING
DARKROOM
BASIC COMPONENTS OF
DARKROOM
STORAGE SHELVES
WORKBENCH
BASIC COMPONENTS:
PROCESSOR
BASIC COMPONENTS:
CHEMISTRY MIXING TANKS
BASIC COMPONENTS:
FILM DUPLICATOR
DUPLICATING FILM EXPOSED
TO ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION
BASIC COMPONENTS:
FILM FLASHER
BASIC COMPONENTS:
SILVER RECOVERY SYSTEM
BASIC COMPONENTS
FILM BIN
FILM BIN AUDIO ALARM
FILM BIN ANATOMY
CONTAINS INDIVIDUAL SLOTS
THAT HOLD FILMS OF DIFFERENT
SIZES
TYPICAL DARKROOM FILM
BIN
OTHER FILMS
8 x 10
10 x 12
11 x 14
14 x 17
FRONT
RADIOGRAPHIC FILM SIZES
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14 X17
11 x 14
10 x 12
8 x 10
7 x 17
6 x 12
14 x 36
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35 x 43
28 x 35
25 x 30
20 x 25
18 x 43
15 x 30
35 x 91
DARKROOM LIGHT
• WHITE LIGHTS
• SAFELIGHTS
WHITE LIGHT IS USED FOR:
EQUIPMENT REPAIR AND
DARKROOM CLEANING
SAFELIGHTS USED
DURING FILM PROCESSING
SAFELIGHT BULBS
INCANDESCENT RECESSED
WITHIN METALLIC LIGHT
FIXTURE
• RED FILTER-- KODAK GBX-2 OR GS-1
• AMBER FILTER --WRATTEN 6B
SAFELIGHTS
• RED—GREEN LIGHT SENSITIVE
FILM ORTHOCHROMATIC
• AMBER –BLUE LIGHT SENSITIVE
FILM
• TOTAL DARKNESS FOR
PANCHROMATIC FILM
AT LEAST 3 FEET FROM THE
FILM TRAY
7.5 W
FILM TRAY
AT LEAST 4 FEET FROM THE
FILM TRAY
15 W
FILM TRAY
LATENSIFICATION
INCCREASED SENSITIVITY TO
SAFELIGHT ILLUMINATION
AFTER FILM WAS EXPOSED
DARKROOM DESIGN
LEAD SHIELDING IF
ADJACENT TO X-RAY ROOM
• 1/16 INCH OF LEAD IN THE WALLS
ALL THE WAY TO THE CEILING.
IF ADJACENT TO X-RAY
ROOMS
• PASS-BOXES
NEEDED TO PASS
FILMS DIRECTLY
FROM THE X-RAY
ROOM TO
DARKROOM
VENTILATION
• SYSTEM MUST BE LIGHTPROOF AND
ABLE TO FILTER OUT DUST
HUMIDITY
• 40-60%
• > 60%--FILM FOG
• <40% STATIC ARTIFACTS
SIZE
• BIG ENOUGH!!!?
COLOR
• WALLS AND CEILING CAN BE
PAINTED IN ANY COLOR
TEMPERATURE
• 50-70 º F FOR FILM STORAGE– TO
SLOW DOWN THE AGING PROCESS
OF THE FILM
WOULD YOU STORE IT LIKE
THIS???
STORE YOUR FILMS STANDING
ON THE EDGE TO AVOID
PRESSURE MARKS. USE FILM
STORAGE CARTS OR SHELVES
COLOR OF THE MAZE
DARK-- NOT OT REFLECT WHIT
LIGHT INTO THE DARKROOM
DARKROOM TESTING
• WHITE LIGHT LEAKS
• SAFELIGHT FOG
SAFELIGHT TEST
SENSITOMETRY
SENSITOMETRY-QUANTITATIVE
MEASUREMENT OF FILM RESPONSE
TO EXPOSURE & DEVELOPMENT
FILM DEVELOPMENT
SENSITOMETRIC STRIPS
PRODUCING STRIP WITH
PENETROMETER
PRODUCING STRIP WITH
PENETROMETER
X-RAY TUBE
PRODUCING STRIP WITH
SENSITOMETER
PRODUCING STRIP WITH
SENSITOMETER
VISIBLE LIGHT
MEASURING DENSITY WITH
DENSITOMETER
MEASURING DENSITY WITH
DENSITOMETER
VISIBLE LIGHT
Io
It
OD OPTICAL DENSITY
OD= LOG Io/I t
0.3 = 2 X DENSITY
OD vs % OF LIGHT
TRANSMISSION
OD
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0
1
2
3
4
% TRANSMISSION
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100
10
1
0.1
0.01
Characteristic curve, a curve used to show the exposure
properties of a film or a film screen system. The
characteristic curve, which was described in 1890 by
Hurter and Driffield, is a representation of how the
exposure of the film is related to the measurable signal,
i.e. the blackening of the film, or film density. The
characteristic curve is different for different film types but
has a general shape as shown in Fig.1. The base and fog
density is measured on an unexposed film. The shape of
the characteristic curve tells the user the contrast
properties (slope of the linear part) and the useful
exposure range (length of the linear part). It also will
indicate the speed of the film (or film-screen system),
which can be judged from the curve's position along the
horizontal axis. The speed class can also be found from
the characteristic curve
SENSITOMETRIC CURVE
• H & D CURVE
• D Log E CURVE
• CHARACTERISTIC CURVE
SOLARIZATION
SYNERGISTIC REACTION
HYDROQUINONE
PHENIDONE
SOLARIZATION
FILM DUPLICATION
EXPOSURE TIME
DENSITY
Base Plus Fog
( GROSS FOG, D min 0.15 -.20 OD)
The density of the unexposed film base plus
any chemical fogging that may occur during
processing
Inertia Point
TRESHOLD
The point at which the film has absorbed
sufficient light energy to start forming a
latent image.
Toe
A non-linear region where shadow detail is
recorded in negative materials (Highlight
detail in print material). Compression of the
density differences occur and contrast is
decreased.
Straight Line Portion
( GAMMA, SLOPE)
The linear section where most of the
information is recorded. This section is used
to determine the processed contrast of the
film.
RANGE OF USEFUL
DENSITIES
0.25-2.0
Shoulder
A non-linear section. Compression of density
differences occur and contrast is decreased. It
is unusual to record information on this
region of the curve, however this region may
be reached with overexposure or extended
development such as push processing to
increase effective film speed
QUANTITATIVE DATA
OBTAINED FROM H&D CURVE
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FILM SPEED
FILM CONTRAST
B+F ( BASE PLUS FOG)
EXPOSURE LATITUDE
FILM SPEED
FAST
SLOW
FILM CONTRAST
AVERAGE GRADIENT
A.G.= (OD2 – OD1)/ (LRE2 –LRE1)
FILM CONTRAST
STEEPNESS OF THE SLOPE
FILM CONTRAST
AVERAGE GRADIENT
D2
D1
LRE1
LRE2
FILM LATITUDE
LATITUDE
LATITUDE
CONTRAST VERY HIGH
VISIBILITY OF DETAIL
VISIBILITY OF DETAIL vs
CONTRAST
HIGH CONTRAST
LOW CONTRAST
PROCESSOR MONITORING
• DEVELOPER TEMP
• DEVELOPMENT TIME
.
• SPEED
• FOG
• CONTRAST
• FOG
• SPEED
• CONTRAST
THE AUTOMATIC
PROCESSOR
AUTOMATIC PROCESSOR
DAYLIGHT SYSTEM
PROCESSOR
SECTIONS OF THE
PROCESSOR
W
F
D
D
ENTRANCE ROLLERS
ENTRANCE
ROLLER
ENTRANCE
ROLLER
FILMS ORIENTATION ON THE
TRAY
14 X 17
11 X 14
10 X 12
8 X 10
7 X 17
PROCESSOR SYSTEMS &
SUBSYSTEMS
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TRANSPORT
TEMP. CONTROL
RECIRCULATION
REPLENISHMENT
DRYER
ELECTRICAL
TRANSPORT
TRANSPORT FILM THROUGH
PROCESSOR, REGULATION OF
IMMERSION TIME, AGITATE
SOLUTIONS
TRANSPORT
GUIDE SHOE
ROLLER
RACKS
TURNAROUND ASSEMBLY
MASTER
GUIDE SHOE
TURNAROUND ASSEMBLY
MASTER ROLLER
GUIDE SHOE
SQUEEGE ROLLER
TEMPERATURE CONTROL—
DRYER AND SOLUTION
TEMPERATURE
ELECTRICAL HEATER
TEMPERATURE VARIATION
+- 5 DEG. FARENHEIT
TEMPERATURE
• DEVELOPER
• 95 DEG F
• FIXER
• 95 DEG. F
• WASH
• 90-95 DEG. F
• DRYER
• 135 DEG. F
TEMP. CONTROL
DRYER TEMP.
DRYER BLOWER
RECIRCULATION
RECIRCULATION –AGITATION
OF SOLUTIONS+ FILTRATION
FILTER
PUMP
RECIRCULATION
REPLENISHMENT SYSTEM
REPLENISHMENT
REPLENISHMENT
PUMP
D
F
REPLENISHMENT RATES
FOR EVERY 14 IN. OF FILM
• 60-70 ML OF DEVELOPER
• 100-110 ML OF FIXER
PROCESSING TIME
+- 2 % VARIATION
• 45 SEC-210 SEC.
• MOST PROCESSORS DROP TIME 90 SEC.
RADIOGRAPHIC ARTIFACTS
TYPES OF ARTIFACTS
• PROCESSING
• EXPOSURE
• HANDLING AND STORAGE
PROCESSING ARTIFACTS
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HYPORETENTION
PI-LINES
GUIDE SHOE MARK
STATIC
ENTRANCE ROLLER MARK
CRINKLE MARK
FINGER MARKS
EMULSION PICK-OFF
WATER STAIN
EXPOSURE ARTIFACTS
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MOTION
IMPROPER POSITIONING
POOR FILM SCREEN CONTACT
DOUBLE EXPOSURE
FOREIGN OBJECTS
BACK-SCATTER
CASSETTE UPSIDE-DOWN
BROKEN CASSETTE
IMPROPER USE OF GRID
HANDLING & STORAGE
ARTIFACTS
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LIGHT FOG
RADIATION FOG
STATIC
SCRATCHES
HYPORETENTION
FILMS STUCK TO EACH OTHER
DURING PROCESSING
HYPORETENTION
PI-LINE
GUIDE SHOE MARK
STATIC
STATIC
STATIC
ROLLER MARKS
FINGER MARKS
CRIMPING MARK
PICK-OFF
WATER STAIN
WATER STAIN
POOR FILM SCREN
CONTACT
H.T. (High Voltage) CABLES
DOUBLE EXPOSURE
BACKSCATTER OR CASSETTE
UPSIDE-DOWN
BACKSCATTER
BACKSCATTER OR CASSETTE
UPSIDE-DOWN
MOIRE EFFECT
WARPED CASSETTE-LIGHT
LEAK
HAIR BUN
CLOTHES RIBBING
GRID CUT-OFF
JEWELLERY
SCATTER FOG
SANDBAG
FOGGING
KYPHOSIS-CHIN
STRAP
Q.A. TESTS
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COLLIMATION
FOCAL SPOT SIZE
KVP CALIBRATION
EXPOSURE LINEARITY
EXPOSURE REPRODUCIBILITY
FILM-SCREEN CONTACT
PROTECTIVE APPAREL INTEGRITY
COLLIMATION
(LIGHT FIELD/RADIATION
FIELD CONGRUENCY)
• SEMI-ANUALLY
• NINE PENNY TEST OR SPECIAL
TOOL TEST
• +- 2% OF SID
FOCAL SPOT SIZE
• ANNUALLY
• PINHOLE CAMERA, SLIT CAMERA,
STAR PATTERN
• +- 50%
STAR PATTERN
LINE PAIR TEST TOOL
KVP CALLIBRATION
• ANNUALLY
• KVP METER
• +- 10%
KVP METER
EXPOSURE LINEARITY
• ANNUALLY
• DOSIMETER
• +- 10%
EXPOSURE
REPRODUCIBILITY
• ANNUALLY
• RADIATION DOSIMETER
• +-5%
FILM/SCREEN CONTACT
• ANNUALLY
• WIRE MESH
• NO DARK AREAS PRESENT ON THE
FILM
WIRE MESH
HOW USE WIRE MESH TO TEST
FILM SCRREN CONTACT
CASSETTE
PROTECTIVE APPAREL
• ANNUALLY
• FLUORO
• NO CRACKS OR HOLES