IMAGE

ARTIFACTS
ARTIFACT
 Any irregularity in the image that is caused
by the proper shadowing of the tissue
 Unintended optical density on a radiograph
 Unwanted blemishes on the medical images.
 Interfere with the visualization of
anatomical structure that may lead to
misrepresentation.
ARTIFACT
 THREE AREAS CAUSING ARTIFACT:
HANDING AND
PROCESSING EXPOSURE
STORAGE
ARTIFACT ARTIFACT
ARTIFACT
PROCESSING ARTIFACTS
 Processing artifacts are produced during the
time the film is in the film processor.

 Processing artifacts can be eliminated with a

proper processor quality control program and
frequent cleaning.

 Occasionally the best film processor will jam

or malfunction and produce artifacts.
 PROCESSING ARTIFACTS
Appearance Cause
 Guide shoe marks  Improper position of guide shoes in
turn-around assembly.
 Pi lines  Dirt or chemical stains on rollers

 Sharp increase or decrease in  Dirty or warped rollers

OD
 Uniform dull gray fog  Improper or bad chemistry
PROCESSING ARTIFACT
 AIR BELLS ARTIFACT  SCRATCHES
 Small, round, light- ARTIFACT
colored artifacts  When film is rubbed
caused by the bubbles against the hanger
clinging to the film in clips of other films in
the developer.
the tank.
 Undeveloped portion in
the radiograph because
developer solution  ABRASION ARTIFACT
cannot reached them.  When the delicate
 Agitation upon film’s emulsion was
developing prevents rubbed against the
this artifact. side of the tank.
PROCESSING ARTIFACT
(MANUAL)
 KISS MARKS
ARTIFACT
 Result of films’
contact with another
during processing
 Decreased density
due to undeveloped
areas in the film
 This can be avoided
thru separately
agitating two films.
PROCESSING ARTIFACT
(MANUAL)
 KISS MARKS
ARTIFACT
 Kissing in the fixer
appears milky or
streaky appearance.
 This can be avoided
thru separately
agitating two films.
 By running the film
through the fixer, the
undeveloped emulsion can
be fixed and the image will
be less degraded.
 PROCESSING ARTIFACT
(AUTOMATIC)
 Here we see hesitation marks on
top of film.
 This film remained in the
developer too long. Perhaps
from:
 Power Failure
 Processor jam
PROCESSING ARTIFACT
(MANUAL)
 SCRATCHES
ARTIFACT
 When film is rubbed
against the hanger
clips of other films in
the tank.

 ABRASION ARTIFACT
 When the delicate
film’s emulsion was
rubbed against the
side of the tank.
PROCESSING ARTIFACT
(MANUAL)
 DARK STREAKS
 When seen in the
entire film, this occurs
when the developer
lid was removed under
light illumination
while processing takes
place causing light
exposure to the film.
 When the door was
opened before
completely fed by the
processor
PROCESSING ARTIFACT
(MANUAL)
 PIN HOLES
 Tiny bright spot on the film.
 Due too much high
temperature of the dryer.
 Maintain 110F (43.3C) dryer
temp.

RETICULATION
 When the film subjected to a

sudden temperature
changes between the
developer and water.

Appear as cracked film .
PROCESSING ARTIFACT
Dichroic stain
 This is what contaminated
developer looks like.
 Contaminated developer can
also appear as a pink film.

•Appearance same with light or

radiation fog. Uniform dull gray and
as a curtain effect on the
radiograph.
PROCESSING ARTIFACT
(AUTOMATIC)
Run Back Artifact
 Proper cleaning of the
cross over rollers can
reduce the incidence
of this artifact.
PROCESSING ARTIFACT
(AUTOMATIC)
Curtain effect
 If the squeegee
rollers in the
developer rack do not
work, the chemicals
run down the film
forming the
appearance of water
running down a
window.
PROCESSING ARTIFACT
(AUTOMATIC)
Guide shoe
 When turn-around
assembly are sprung
or improperly
positioned.
 Visible in the leading
edges parallel to the
direction as film
travels through the
processor.
PROCESSING ARTIFACT
(AUTOMATIC)
Water Marks
 These spots are the result of
water spots on the film.
 The upper rollers in the wash
tank are supposed to squeegee
the film.
PROCESSING ARTIFACT
(AUTOMATIC)
Hesitation marks
Pi lines  Caused by the
 Due to dirt on the improper operation or
rollers uneven travel speed
 Occur at 3.1416 ‘’ of the transport
interval which system.
represent one
revolution
 Appears perpendicular
to the film direction as
it travels to the
processor.
 Caused by the
transport system.
 PROCESSING ARTIFACT
(AUTOMATIC)
Wet pressure
sensitization
 common artifact produce in the
developer tank which leave
sludge on the film.
 caused by dirty roller during
development.
 Appears small circular patterns
which increase in density.
Emulsion pick-off
Gelatin build up
EXPOSURE ARTIFACT
 CAUSES:
 Incorrectscreen-film match
 Poor screen-film contact
 Warped cassettes
 Improper grid positioning and/or patient.
 Patient motion
 Double exposure

“PATIENT PREPARATION IS ESSENTIAL IN PRODUCING

ARTIFACT FREE RADIOGRAPH”
EXPOSURE ARTIFACT
Poor screen-film contact
Warped cassettes
 EXPOSURE ARTIFACT
 Reused film
 Unclear patient
instruction
EXPOSURE ARTIFACT
Double exposure Improper patient preparation
EXPOSURE ARTIFACT
Improper patient positioning Improper grid positioning
EXPOSURE ARTIFACT
Poor screen film contact Warped cassette
FILM HANDLING AND STORAGE
ARTIFACT
 Caused by:
 Slidingthe film or cassette across the surface of
the darkroom cabinet or work area
 Dropping the cassette on the floor
 By the spark released by the emulsion
 Common in area of dry climate
FILM HANDLING AND STORAGE
ARTIFACT
 Hyporetention
 Is the term use to
describe the
undesirable
retention of fixer
in the emulsion
 Can be avoided thru
adequate washing.
FILM HANDLING AND STORAGE
ARTIFACT
Light/Radiation fog
 Improper placement
of the film in the
cassette
 Film folded over the
edge of the cassette.
 Caused by:
 Improper safelight filter
 Too bright filter
 Too close filter
FILM HANDLING AND STORAGE
ARTIFACT
 When film is dropped on a wet or dirty floor.

Dirt Marks Or Smudge Marks

FILM HANDLING AND STORAGE
ARTIFACT
 Fingernail mark Caused by bending the film
 Kink marks
 Caused by rough
handling of the film.

Half Moon marks

FILM HANDLING AND STORAGE
ARTIFACT
 Fingerprint mark
Static artifact
Due too low humidity in the
 Caused by rough
darkroom
handling of the film.
Build-up of electrons.
FILM HANDLING AND STORAGE
ARTIFACT
 Caused by the dirt on the cassette before processing

Reduced Optical Density

 Thank you for listening!

MORE LEARNINGS TO COME