Class notes 10.06.

08

Distance – Effect on contrast

SID – increase contrast will increase (short scale)
SID – decrease contrast will decrease (long scale)

Image Image
Low Contrast High Contrast

Intensifying – effect on contrast

Increasing the intensifying screen speed will increase the radiographic contrast, as
compared to non-screen/ direct x-ray image.

Grids – effect on contrast

Increase with grid ratio will increase the radiographic contrast due to the greater
absorption of the x-ray energy.

Patient – effect on contrast

Anatomic part thickness:
More radiation is required to penetrate through the patient to the image receptor.
KVp is adjusted based on patient thickness. Must use calipers to measure the
anatomic part.

Tissue Density

Tooth Enamel Radiopaque

Bone
Cartilage
Muscle
Fluid filled air
Fat
Air Radiolucent

Processing
Radiographic contrast will decrease:
1. Increase developer time
2. Increase developer temperature
3. Increase in chemical concentration
4. Extraneous light fog
5. Increase in chemical fumes

Contrast media
High contrast/short scale
Any type of contrast media will increase the contrast.
 Class notes 10.06.08

T
kV Dista Scre G OI SO ota
mA time p nce ens rids D D l
1 1 2 4 2 2
16:0 18 14
A 200 0.3 90 32 Par 1 12
2 2 4 3 1 1
Rare 10:0 14 19
B 300 0.2 70 36 Earth 1 13
3 3 1 3 3 4
0.012 Detai 30 10
C 500 5 60 40 l 8:01 17
4 4 3 2 4 3
N 33 11
1 on-
D 000 0.1 50 44 Fast grid 20

More Contrast =
Answer is: D

T
kV Dista Scre G OI SO ota
mA time p nce ens rids D D l
4 4 3 2 4 4
16:0 12 20
A 200 0.3 90 32 Par 1 21
3 3 1 3 3 3
Rare 10:0 22 14
B 300 0.2 70 36 Earth 1 16
2 2 4 3 2 2
0.012 Detai 28 12
C 500 5 60 40 l 8:01 15
1 1 2 4 1 3
N 30 14
1 on-
D 000 0.1 50 44 Fast grid 12

Less Contrast =
Answer is: A

T
kV Dista Scre G OI SO ota
mA time p nce ens rids D D l
1 4 4 4 2 2 4 4
16:0 11 21
A 200 0.3 90 32 Par 1 25
2 3 3 3 4 3 2 1
Rare 10:0 26 10
B 300 0.2 70 36 Earth 1 21
3 1 2 2 1 3 3 3
0.012 Detai 24 16
C 500 5 60 40 l 8:01 18
4 2 1 1 3 4 1 2
N 31 13
1 on-
D 000 0.1 50 44 Fast grid 18
 Class notes 10.06.08

More Density =
Answer is: A

T
kV Dista Scre G OI SO ota
mA time p nce ens rids D D l
4 1 1 1 3 4 2 3
16:0 9 23
A 200 0.3 90 32 Par 1 19
3 2 2 2 1 3 4 4
Rare 10:0 23 13
B 300 0.2 70 36 Earth 1 21
2 4 3 3 4 3 3 2
0.012 Detai 12 28
C 500 5 60 40 l 8:01 24
1 3 4 4 2 2 2 1
N 9 35
1 on-
D 000 0.1 50 44 Fast grid 19

OID –
Focal spot size – has no effect on density or contrast, but it does have on
radiographic detail.
SOD – increase SOD will increase density.