Dark Room
Dark Room
Dark Room
The main use of a darkroom is to print your photographs in the traditional way. Its called
a darkroom because it is almost completely dark – apart from a red light called a “safe light”.
This is really important because it allows you to handle the light-sensitive materials necessary to
make traditional darkroom prints.
Radiographic Processing
Correct processing of radiographs is a key factor in good radiography. Correct processing is not an
expensive procedure; however an understanding of basic fundamentals and needs is required to avoid
unnecessary that might destroy the detail of a radiograph. The first consideration will be x-ray film and
its processing.
The latent image produced when a radiographic film is exposed to a beam of X-ray can be visualized
and examined only after the film has been suitably processed in the dark room .
However, the most detailed and careful radiographic technique in the X-ray room can be wasted
unless it is matched by similar high standards in the dark room. It is essential that the dark room
should be suitably maintained and used.
The exposed film is removed from the cassette in a safely lighted dark room and placed in stainless
steel processing frame. It is then immersed in a tank of developer which completes the reduction of the
exposed grains of silver halide, and makes the image visible.
After a specified time the film is taken out of the developer, rinsed in water and then immersed in the
fixer bath. This solution removes the undeveloped emulsion.
The image can be inspected in white light. after 10 minutes in the fixer bath the film is washed in
running water for half an hou, to remove the processing chemicals and then hung up to dry.
Top Details of radiographic processing:
Storing unexposed x-ray film it should be stored in cool dry place protected from radiation in upright
position.
Loading the X-ray film
The X-ray film should be correctly positioned within the cassette by touching only the corners.
The central portion should never be touched. Then the cassette should be closed and locked.
Storing x-ray cassettes
Loaded x-ray cassettes should be stored in an upright position in cool dry place within the dark room.
Removing the x-ray film from the cassette
The processing room should be darkened except for the safe light. Great care must be taken in
removing the x-ray film from the cassette to prevent damage of the intensifying screens. The workers
fingers should not touch the screens of the cassette. Rubbing the film across the end of the cassette
must be avoided to avoided black pressure scratches on the developed radiograph.
Developing X-Ray Film
The processing solutions should be stirred before processing the film. The x-ray film should be placed
in the developing solution and agitated briefly to remove any air bubbles.
It should be left in the developer for five minutes, if the temperature is 68° F. If the temperature varies
from 68° F the developing time should be varied accordingly. Below 60° F, developing chemical are
quite sluggish casing under development and inadequate fixation.
A bone 75°f developing chemical work too rapidly causing fogging and too much softening the
emulsion chemicals.
Top Time-Temperature Variations for Film Developing
Temperature degrees 60 62 64 66 68 70 72 74 76
The developing chemicals reduce the exposed silver halides in the emulsion to metallic silver, which is
black. The increase in intensity of light from the intensifying screens causes more of the silver halides
to turn to metallic silver, thus giving the various shades of gray and black on the developed radiograph.
Two forms of developing chemicals are used, one a liquid and the other a powder. Liquid chemicals
are more convenient, the powder variety may disseminate powder dust throughout the room.
The developing solution should be tightly covered when not in use to reduce oxidation. The solution
should be discarded and replaced after three months of use because oxidation and accumulation of
gelatin sludge and other impurities will cause poor development. A more practical method of
determining it the developing solution should be discarded is to notice the color. As the solution
weakens it first turns yellow, then brown. When it turns brown, indicating exhaustion, it should be
replaced.
X-ray film should be quickly removed from the developer and, in one motion placed into the post-
developer water rinse. The developing solution should not be allowed to drip from the film back into the
developer tank. The developing solution on the film will be nearly exhausted and a certain amount of
developer should be removed each time to reduce the level so that developer replenisher solution may
be added periodically. This keeps the developer at the proper level and at the correct chemical
strength.
Reloading the Cassette:
During the time that the x-ray film is in the developer the cassettes should be reloaded as previously
described.
Top Post-development Rinse
The post-development rinse, which ordinarily will take 30 seconds, should be circulating clean water.
The rinsing process can be shortened by continually agitating the film. After the rinse is completed the
film should be drained to prevent excess dilution of the fixer.
Clearing and fixing X-ray Film
After its removal from the rinse, x-ray film should be placed in the fixing solution and agitated for 15
seconds. This helps prevent streaking and staining of the finished radiograph and hastens the fixation
process.
The temperature range for fixation should be the same as that for development, with 68° F optimum.
The developing and fixing solutions should have the same temperatures to avoid unevenness of
development and reticulation of the final radiograph.
Final Washing of the Radiograph
Adequate washing prevents discoloration it should be performed in running water at 68 F. washing for
20 minutes is adequate.
Top Drying the radiograph
The radiograph may be dried in open air or in an automatically heated, circulating air dryer fresh fixer
solution hastens drying. If temperature of fixation is above 75o F, drying time will he markedly slower
due to swelling of the emulsion.
Storing Radiographs:
Processed radiographs should have the corners cut off and be placed in a properly labeled envelope.
The envelope should be stored in an upright position in a storage bin. A numbering system should be
used so that radiographs can be easily found.
Automatic processing
Reliable short time automatic processors are available. It should be 90-seconds processor because
the reliability and reproducibility is as good as these for the slower processors.
Where large number of radiographs have to be handled, automatic processing reduces the time and
labor needed and results in a consistent end product . However, the cost of the initial equipment, of
maintenance and the increased amount of chemicals required would seldom justify its use in
veterinary practice.
Top Hanging x-ray film
X- ray film should be grasped only at the corners and inserted into the clips of the film hangers and
locked in place. The upper corner of the film grasped and a Hached to the top clips. The film now
ready to be placed in the developing tank.
The clips of the film hanger should be cleaned periodically to prevent an accumulation of chemicals
that may rundown on the film during processing and cause streaks.
Manufacturers specify the correct type.
Two forms of safe-light can be used in the radiographic dark room.
Direct: a diffused light shines directly over the work point, such as the dry and wet bench.
Indirect: the filtered light is directed up to the ceiling where it is reflected over the room.
Safe-light efficiency: Safe-lights should be placed so that the work of the dark room can be done
without fumbling . where the dry and wet benches are separate , a small direct wall light should be
provided for each.
The simplest way of carrying this out is by placing lead letters or numbers on top of the film holder
(preferably fixed with Sellotape or similar radio translucent material) before making the radiographic
exposure .
" L ", " R " and similar markers should be always be added at this stage. If this information is attached
to the film later it is only too easy to make mistake in identifying a particular side of the patient .
Identification During Processing
Essential information can be penciled on a corner of the film in the dark room immediately before
processing .
Care and storage of the dry radiograph
The following notes on the care and storage of dry films may be useful:
Make sure the films are dry.
The practice of keeping films in their original paper protective folders from the film box is cheap, but
less acceptable when many films are to be stored . It is more convenient to keep them in film storage
envelops .
Film envelopes can be filed either in a cabinet or on open shelves. It will be found that it is much easier
to file films if all the envelopes are the same size.
Films of outstanding interest can be further protected by sealing them in polythene covers from which
they need not to removed when handling and viewing.
Top X-ray Film Processing Sequence
Preliminary
Check that the developer is at the correct level and temperature and has been stirred . Select the correct
film hanger. Switch on safe –lights. Switch off white light.
Dry Bench
Open the back plate of the cassette and gently shake the top well so the film can be grasped at its
edge by the finger and thumb (photographa).
Loading the hanger if a channel type hanger is used, hold it in the left hand and slide the film into the
channels and close the top hinge (photograph b).
A tension clip hanger is loaded by inserting the film first into the bottom clips, then turning the hunger
the right way up , insert the film into the upper spring clips (photograph c).
Loading the hunger
If a channel type hunger is used hold it in the left hand and slide the film into the channels and close
the top hinge.
A tension clip hunger is loaded by inserting the film first into the bottom clips then turning the hunger
the right way up, insert the film into the upper spring clips.
Identification
Right the owner's name together with other relevant information in pencil on the top right-hand corner
of the film if other methods of identification are not used.
Close the cassette.
Wet Bench
Place the film in the developer (photographed) and agitate two or three times to remove any air
bubbles on the film surface . Place the lid on the developer tank .
Set the interval timer.
If the hands are wet, rinse and dry thoroughly.
Top Reloading the cassette
Open the lid of the X-ray film box and extract a film in its folder by its edge . Film emulsion is sensitive
to pressure, so don’t fold or buckle film by careless handling.
Open the cassette.
Pull back the top leaf of the protective holder, twist the wrest and drop the film into the well of the
cassette. Withdraws the folder. Run a finger around the edge of the well to make sure that the film is
not protruding over the edge.
Close the cassette and replace the top on the film box.
At the end of the developing period, left out the film and allow the solution to drain back into the
developer tank for a few seconds.
Rinse in water for about 10 seconds.
Place the film in the fixer and wait for 30 seconds.
The white light can now be switched on.
When the milky appearance caused by the dissolving silver halides had disappeared the film can be
viewed for technical quality and professional diagnosis.
The film should be washed in running water for half an hour.
Drying
The usual method of drying a small quantity of films is to take them out of the channel hangers, attach
drying clips and hang them on a tensioned wire line in a dust-free place where there is a free air
circulation . the films should not touch each other.
Radiographic Interpretation
The radiograph should not be read when wet. A wet film should be examined only to see if the exposure
is correct, the desired anatomical areas have been included on the film, the positioning is adequate, and
radiographic detail is sharp.
A final conclusion concerning the radio-graphic study should be made only from a dry radiograph.