Quinnipiac University Diagnostic Imaging

RS 240L
Lab #10
Manual Film Processing
Name: Karen Finn
Objective: To observe the effects of manual processing
Equipment Used
The equipment that was used during this lab was the portable x-ray, a toy skull, a 10 by
12 100 RSI image receptor, manual processing film trays, and the dark room, which
included the processor with the feed tray.
Procedure:
The first step in this lab was to place the toy in the center of the x-ray table on top of the
10 by 12 image receptor. The SID was set to 40 inches and the central ray was directed to
the center of the toy and collimated. A kVp of 40 and a mAs of 3.2 was set. The film was
then processed by completely immersed in the developer for 15 seconds while agitating
the film. The film was removed from the developer and immediately immersed in the
fixer tray where it was agitated for 30 seconds. The film was removed from the fixer and
put in the wash tray. For radiograph 2, steps 1 through 7 were repeated but the film was
immersed for 30 seconds and agitated. For radiograph 3, steps 1 through 7 were repeated
but the film was immersed for 30 seconds but was not agitated. For radiograph 4, steps 1
through 7 were repeated but the film was immersed for 60 seconds and agitated. All of
the radiographs were observed and the differences in density and contrast were noted.
Results / Discussion / Questions
1. Radiograph 1 came out a little lighter than radiograph 2 because it was only
placed in the developer for 15 seconds whereas radiograph 2 was placed in the
developer for 30 seconds. Radiograph 4 came out the darkest because it was left
in the developer for 60 seconds with agitation. Radiograph 3 came out streaky and
has swirls on the image due to the fact that it was not agitated, the fresh chemicals
were not getting to the emulsion. The more time in the developer the darker the
image gets which explains why radiograph 4 was the darkest out of all the images.
Radiograph 2 was darker than radiograph 1 because it was in the developer longer
but it was lighter than radiograph 4 because it spent less time in the developer. All
the x-rays had the same SID and they were all centered the same so all 4
radiographs included the same anatomy.
2. During development, the developer solution is agitated at frequent intervals in
order to keep the emulsion in contact with fresh solution. If the film is not agitated
during development, the solution in contact with the high density areas of the film
will become exhausted which means the development of those areas stops, while
the solution in contact with low density areas is exhausted to a lesser extent so the
development proceeds. As a result, a radiograph will show low contrast. If the
image is not agitated the image becomes streaky and uneven.
3. Time, chemistry, temperature, and replenishment all affect film processing.