Common Problems in Film Processing

1. Light Radiographs

• Causes:
  • Under Development:
    • Temperature too low
    • Time too short
    • Depleted developer solution
  • Under Exposure:
    • Insufficient milliamperage
    • Insufficient kVp
    • Insufficient exposure time
    • Film-source distance too great
    • Film packet reversed in the mouth

2. Dark Radiographs

• Causes:
  • Over Development:
    • Temperature too high
    • Time too long
    • Accidental exposure to light
    • Improper safe lighting
    • Developer concentration too high
  • Over Exposure:
    • Excessive milliamperage
    • Excessive kVp
    • Excessive exposure time
    • Film-source distance too short

3. Insufficient Contrast

• Causes:
  • Improper processing conditions (under or over development)
  • Depleted developer solution
  • Contaminated solutions

4. Film Fog

• Causes:
  • Excessive kVp
  • Improper safe lighting
  • Light leaks in the darkroom
  • Contaminated developer solution

5. Dark Spots or Tines

• Causes:
  • Contaminated solutions
  • Film contaminated with developer before processing
  • Film in contact with tank or another film during fixation

6. Light Spots

• Causes:
  • Insufficient washing
  • Film contaminated with fixer before processing
  • Film in contact with tank or another film during development

7. Yellow or Brown Stains

• Causes:
  • Insufficient washing after fixation
  • Depleted fixer solution
  • Contaminated solutions

8. Blurring

• Causes:
  • Movement of the patient during exposure
  • Movement of the X-ray tube head
  • Double exposure
  • Misalignment of the X-ray tube head (cone cut)

9. Partial Images

• Causes:
  • Top of film not immersed in developing solution
  • Film in contact with tank or another film during processing

10. Emulsion Peel

• Causes:
  • Excessive bending of the film
  • Improper handling of the film

11. Static Discharge

• Causes:
  • Static discharge to film before processing (results in dark lines with a tree-like image)

12. Fingerprint Contamination

• Causes:
  • Fingerprint contamination during handling of the film

13. Excessive Roller Pressure

• Causes:
  • Excessive roller pressure during processing can lead to artifacts on the film.