RADIOGRAPHIC FILM

Displays radiographic image, consists of silver halide crystals which when exposed to light
produce a silver ion and an electro.
Photographic receptor which consists of photographically active radiation sensitive
emulsion coated on a thin sheet-like material, responsible in recording physical impression
of an object where we can get their detail.
The process of photographic film and radiographic film are the same but the radiation is
more sensitive.

TYPES OF FILM
Direct Exposure Film
often referred to as "non-screen film", this type of film is made to be directly exposed to
radiation, producing diagnostic images of human body structures without the use of a
cassette or screen.
Screen Film
A film that is used to create radiographic images along with a cassette that contains
intensifying screens.
Single Emulsion Film
Is coated on one side of the film and is used with single intensifying screen.
It is used with single intensifying screen and has many uses.
1. Duplication 5 Sonography
2. Subtraction 6. Nuclear Medicine
3. Computed Tomography 7 Mammography
4. Magnetic Resonance Imaging 8. Laser Printing
Contains an antihalation layer, which differentiates it from double emulsion film.
Supercoat
A thin layer of gelatin is applied on top of emulsion to protect the emulsion prom effects of
light pressure or abrasion.
Emulsion Layer
A gelatin layer that contains the image forming materials.
Subbing Layer
A thin layer that allows the emulsion to better adhere to the base.
Base
Is sometimes referred to as the "support" as it is the supporting material that the emulsion
layer is then coated onto.
Anti-Halation/Non-Curl Backing
A colored backing a single emulsion film, prevents film from halation.

DOUBLE EMULSION FILM

Each side of the base is coated with an emulsion, and each coating is covered in a layer
of super coat and usually radiographic imaging employs two emulsion films without two
intensifying screens.
A plastic base, made of clear, transparent cellulose acetate - acts as a support for the
emulsion but does not contribute to the final image.
A thin layer of adhesive - Fixer the emulsion to the base.
The emulsion on both sides of the base - this consists of silver halide (usually bromide)
crystals embedded in a gelatin matrix.
A protective layer of clear gelatin to shield the emulsion from mechanical damage.

TYPES OF FILMS ACCORDING TO USE:

1. Mammographic Film
It is for radiography of the breast and has fine grain, single emulsion and greater detail.
2. Therapy Localization film
A radiographic detail under a wide range of exposure to x-rays and gamma rays.
3. Dental X-ray Film
Intraoral Films:
A. Periapical Film
B. Bitewing or inter proximal film
C. Occusal Film
4. Video Film
Single emulsion film exposed in a device called multi-format camera or a laser camera.
5. PhotoFluographic Film
Single coated film for photography of the image on the fluorescent screen by a camera in
mass chest x-ray examination.
6. Cine Film
Single emulsion film with sprocket holes.
7. Copy or Duplicating Film
Single emulsion exposed to ultraviolet light through the existing radiograph to produce a
copy using BLB ultraviolet fluorescent lamp.
8. Dosimeter Film (Personal Monitoring Film)
Measures radiation absorbed dose.
9. Automatic Serial Changer Film
For serial radiography such as angiography and has special protective coating
10. Polaroid Radiography Film
It is a paper-based film.
11. Industrial film
For high energy radiography.
12. Laser Film
Used in laser printing such as MRI and CT.

FILM CONSTRUCTION
1. Super coated / Top Coated
Is a durable protective layer that is intended to prevent damage to the sensitive emulsion
layer underneath it.
2. Emulsion
Heart of the Radiographic Film
where the x-rays or light photons from intensifying screen interact.
A. Silver Halide Crystal
It is the material that is sensitive to radiation and light. It is made up of silver bromide
(AgBr) silverodide (Agl).it is believed that silver bromide constitutes 90% and 99% of the
silver halide in film emulsions makes up the remaining 1 to 10 %.
B. Gelatin
Made up from the calf skin. It is an ideal suspension medium for the silver halide crystal.

3. Base
Is polyester (plastic) that gives the film physical stability.
4. Adhesive layer
 Between the emulsion layer and the base. It simply adheres one layer of the film to
another.

HISTORY OF FILM BASE

Glass Plate
Original radiographic film; x-ray plate; first rad film that was used during world War I: the
number of plates cannot accommodate all patients; largely unavailable.
Cellulose nitrate
Flammable, 1920 up to early 1930s
Cellulose triacetate
Mid 1920s, safety base, not flammable, but properties are almost the same with cellulose
nitrate
Polyester
Early 1960s, more resistant to warping from age and is stronger than cellulose triacetate;
dimensional stability is superior; thinner compare to triacetate; base of modern film.

RADIOGRAPHIC FILM POSSESSES SEVERAL PROPERTIES THAT MAKE IT SUITABLE

FOR MEDICAL IMAGING APPLICATIONS THESE PROPERTIES INCLUDE
1. Sensitivity
Radiographic film is sensitive to x-rays, allowing for the formation of an image when
exposed to radiation.
2. Contract
The film has the ability to differentiate between areas of varying x-ray absorption, enabling
the depiction structures with differing densities.
3. Resolution
This property refers to the films ability to depicts fine details within the imaged object.
4. Speed
The speed of a radiographic film describes the rate at which it can capture an image when
exposed to x-rays.
5. Spectral Sensitivity
Radiographic Films are designed to be sensitive to the specific range of X-ray energies
used in medical imaging ensuring accurate and consistent results.
RADIOGRAPHIC CONTRAST
Is a Photographic factor that affects the visibility of recorded detail.
Contrast is a degree of difference between adjacent densities.

Characteristics of Contrast
Short Scale Contrast
Less number of useful densities on the radiograph.
Abrupt change from one density to another "high contrast" produced by low kvp.

Long Scale Contrast

Large number of useful densities in the radiograph little change from one density to
another "low contrast" Produced by high kvp.

Two Categories of Contrast

Film Contrast
Is a result of the inherent properties manufactured into the type of film and how it is
radiographed.
Subject Contrast
Is a result of the absorption characteristics of the anatomic tissues radiographed and the
level of kilovoltage used.

Facts to Remember in Contrast

1. The lower kvp = greatest contrast (short scale)
2. The highest grid ratio = greatest contrast (short scale)
3. The smallest area of collimation = the greatest contrast (short scale)

Exposure Response
Screen Speed.
Screen Speed
The capacity of a screen to produce visible light.
Screen speed and Light Emission
The faster an intensifying screen, the more light is emitted the same intensity of X-ray
exposure.
Intensifications Factor
The intensifying action of the screen. This factor accurately represents the degree to which
exposure factors (and patient dose) are reduced with intensifying screens are used.
Screen Speed and Patient Dose
As screen speed increases less radiation is necessary and radiation dose to the patient
decreases; as screen speed decreases more radiation dose to the patient increases.
Phosphor Thickness, Crystal size, and Screen Speed
As thickness of the phosphor layer increases, the speed of intensifying screen increases;
as the size of the phosphor crystals increases, the speed of the screen increases.
Screen Speed and Recorded Detail
With given any phosphor type, as screen speed increases, recorded detail decreases, and
as screen speed decreases, recorded detail increases.
Recorded Detail
Refers to the distinctness or sharpness of the structural lines that make up the recording
image.
Geometric Unsharpness
Is a result of the relationship among the sized of the focal spot, SID and OID.
Focal Spot Size
As a focal spot increase, sharpness increases and recorded detail decreases.
OID, Unsharpness, and Recorded Detail
Increasing the OID increases the amount of unsharpness and decreases the recorded
detail, whereas decreasing the amount of OID decreases the amount of unsharpness and
increases the recorded detail.
Spatial Resolutions
Ability of an imaging system to resolve and render on the image a small high-contract
object such as a breast microcakification.
Ability to render small object on image.
Ability to image small object that have a high subject contrast.
Film - screen imaging has a high spatial resolution.
Contrast Resolution - Ability to image anatomic structure of similar subject contrast.
Detail and Recorded Detail - degree of sharpness of structural lines of a radiograph.
CHARACTERISTIC OF CURVE
Two principle measurement involved in sensitometry are the exposure to the film and the
percentage of light transmitted through the processed film.
Such measurement is used to describe the relationship between OD (Optical Density) and
radiation exposure.
This relationship is called characteristics curved, or sometime the H and D after Hurter
and Driffied, who first described this relationship.

D-Min (Minimum Density)

• the TOE of characteristic curve

• slightly higher than Base & Fog density
D-Max (Maximum Density)

• the SHOULDER of the character CURVE

Two Pieces of apparatus are needed to construct a characteristic curve an OPTICAL STEP
WEDGE, sometimes called a SENSITOMETER and a DENSITOMETER, a device that
measure OD.
THREE (3) tools necessary for fabricating a characteristic curve for providing routine quality
control.
1. Digital Thermometer
2. Densitometer
3. Sensitometer

SPEED
Film speed
is the degree to which the emulsion is sensitive to x-rays or to light.
the greater the speed of a film, the more sensitive it is. This increase in sensitivity result
in less exposure necessary to produce a specific density.

TWO (2) PRIMARY FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE SPEED OF RADIOGRAPHIC FILM
1. The number of silver Halide Crystal present in the film
2. The size of Silver Halide crystal present in the film⋅
Silver Halide and Film Sensitivity
As the number of silver halide crystal increases, Film Sensitivity or speed increases: as
the size of the Silver Halide Crystals increases, film sensitivity or speed increases.
Film Speed and Radiation Exposure
The fastest the speed of a film, the less radiation exposure needed to produce a specific
density.

Film Contrast - Average gradient

Film contrast refers to ability of radiographic film to provide a certain level of Image
contrast.
Film contract is related to the slope of the straight-line portion of the characteristics curve.
The best control the radtech can exercise involves exposing the Image Receptor properly
so that the ODS lie within the diagnostically useful range of 0.25 to 2.5 and a bit higher in
mammography.
Gradient
Is the slope of the tangent at any point on the characteristics curve.
Average Gradient
Is the slope of the line drawn between the points on the characteristics curve that
correspond to optical density (OD) densities. The more vertical the line, greater is the film
contrast.

EXPOSURE LATITUDE
Latitude
Refers to the range of exposure over which the image receptor responds with ODS in the
diagnostically useful range.
Can be also thought as the margin of error in technical factors.

HANDLING AND STORAGE CONSIDERATION

✓ Radiographic film is a sensitive radiation detector and must be handled accordingly.
✓ Clean hands are a must and lotion should be avoided (handing artifact).
✓ Radiographic film is pressure sensitive, so rough handling or the imprint of any sharp
object, such as a fingerprint, is reduced as an artifact on the processed radiograph
 ✓ Creasing the film before processing produces a line artifact. Dirt on the hands or on
radiographic intensifying screens produces specular artifacts. In dry environment, static
electricity can cause characteristics artifacts.

STORING UNEXPOSED FILM

✓ Unexposed film should be stored in its original packaging so that important information
about the film can be maintained.
✓ Film Box should be stored vertically not horizontally, to prevent pressure artifacts on the
film.
✓ Film should be stored a temperatures ranging from 50% to 70% ( 10 to 21 oc) and a
relative humidity of 10% to 60%.

PACKAGING OF FILM
Film is packed in a photo - Inert polyethylene bag or in a metal foil to protect them from
light and moisture.

STORAGE PRECAUTION
Film must be protected from
Heat
Radiation
Chemical Fumes
Pressure

HANDLING FILM
Hand Cream should be avoided
Rubber gloves should be avoided

EXPIRATION DATE
Adhere to the "first in, first out" (FIFO) system

KIND OF FOG THAT CAN AFFECT FILM

AGE FOG
SAFELIGHT FOG
CHEMICAL FOG
HEAT FOG
LIGHT FOG
SECONDARY RADIATION FOG
AGE FOG
In Film refers to a specific type of visual effect caused by the aging of photographic film.

LIGHT FOG
In film that can have various effects, both visually and technically.

HEAT FOG
In the context of film photography can have various implications, both in term of visual
aesthetics and technical aspects.

CHEMICAL FOG
Refers to the deterioration in the quality of the image of the negative caused by various
chemical factors during film processing.

SAFELIGHT FOG
Refers to the unintended exposure of light-sensitive materials (such as photographic
paper or film) due to inadequate safe light condition.

SECONDARY RADIATION FOG

Refers to the unintended exposure caused by sources other than the primary x-ray beam.