Work Parameters and Condition - Part2 - Level 2
Work Parameters and Condition - Part2 - Level 2
and Condition
Part II
Level 2
2/14/2023 2
Safe Light
• Exposing films to white light affects the crystal. So X-ray
films should only be handled under safe-light conditions If not
film may become fogged.
• It should be noted that exposed film is more sensitive to light
than unexposed film.
• The intensity and location of safelights must be carefully
considered. It is important to guard films against direct
safelight illumination when loading them on hangers
preparatory to group development.
2/14/2023 3
Test for safelight illumination
• Place an uncovered, unexposed film flat down on the loading
bench. Lay flat objects, such as a ruler, pencil, strip on top of the
film. Leave the film and objects under normal safelight
illumination.
• If no outline of the objects can be seen on the properly processed
film then the safelight illumination can be considered of a low
enough level.
2/14/2023 4
Film Processing Procedure
Essential stages in processing a radiographic film:
a) development
b) rinsing
c) fixing
d) washing
e) drying.
2/14/2023 5
Preparation prior to processing
• Stir all solutions before use.
• Check the temperature of the tank solutions.
• Check the level of solutions in the tanks. The radiographer should maintain
the level of the solutions in the tanks. This level should cover the cross bars of
the hangers.
• If solution level be too low, the addition of replenishment solution will bring it
lo the proper level.
• Consult the table of development times and, when accessary, time-temperature
development chart that all manufacturers supply and set the timer accordingly.
• Clean all working surfaces and wash hands.
• Turn off all lights and proceed lo work under safelight conditions only.
2/14/2023 6
Developing
• When the film is placed in the developer solution, the unexposed crystals
are not affected or removed at this step, but the developer reacts on the
exposed crystals latent image.
• The developing agent gives up electrons to convert the silver halide grains
to metallic silver.
• Grains that have been exposed to the radiation development more
rapidly.
• But enough time (called developing time) should be allowed for the
developer to convert all the silver ions into silver metal.
• Time and temperature are important factors in development.
• Purpose of agitation is to: Dislodge any air bubbles clinging to the film
Replenishment
Black streaks or blotches Light leaks due lo faulty film holders or cassette
Streaks • White and black streaks at points where film was attached
to hanger caused by processing solution remaining on
clips from prior use.
• Inadequate agitation during development.
• Removing film to view during development period causing
developer to run across film unevenly.
• Contamination by chemically-active deposits.
• Interaction of developer and fixer
Black Spots Developer splashes before placing
entire film in developer.
• Grey fog
1. unsuitable dark room safe lighting
2. excessive exposure to safelight (i.e. too long or too close)
3. film accidentally exposed to X-ray or Gamma-ray or to white
light
4. heavy scatter
5. film out-of-date or stored under unsuitable conditions
6. excessive developing
7. exhausted or wrongly mixed developer
8. film cassette with film exposed to heat (e.g. sunlight)
9. cassette not properly closed (edge fog)
• Dark patches
1. drops of developer have fallen onto the film before
development
2. drops of water have fallen onto the film before development
2/14/2023 20
Film Characteristics
• Performance of the film during exposure and
processing and the subsequent image quality
depends on the following factors.
• Film graininess
• Film density
• Film Speed
• Film Contrast
Film graininess
• A film is comprises a huge quantity of grains.
• Film with large grain Coarse grained film
• Film with small grains Fine grained film
• Coarse grained film produce less sharp image
compared with fin grained film.
• If the exposure and film development is improper,
the image may give grainy look
• This is called graininess.
Film Density
• Density is a measure of the blackening of a
radiographic film.
• A film of high density is darker than that of lower
density, measured by densitometer.
2/14/2023 26