what is dark room,its requirements,maintainence and conditions.

1. Dark Room Requirements
and Maintenance
Presented by Group 2
SURG-502

2. Dark Room??
• A dark room is a space where X-ray films are processed and
stored in a light-tight environment.
• Proper film processing is vital to the production of a quality
radiograph.
• 90% of all poor-quality radiographs were the result of poor
processing
• A common area for pitfalls is the darkroom.

3. Qualities of Dark Room
Three qualities of a good darkroom
• Clean
• Organized
• Lightproof

4. Conti...
• Most of work in darkrooms is with minimal light (hence the
word “Dark”).
• Therefore layout should be such as to help reduce exposure of
films to light as it will damage film.
• Should be separate from the radiographic suite and should be
used for only one purpose, processing exposed radiographs.
.

5. Light leaks can cause film fog
A revolving door for the darkroom.

6. Darkroom cleanliness
• Should be clean as only room where intensifying screens and
x-ray film is exposed to the air.
• Should have proper climate control(proper ventillation)
• Should have humid free and cool environment as heat and
humidity damage film emulsion.

7. Darkroom Organization
• Should be organized so that all equipments can be located
quickly and easily.
• There should be two sides in the darkroom a dry side and a wet
side separated by a separation.

8. Dry Side of Darkroom
• Where cassettes are unloaded and reloaded.
• Should have countertop large enough to accommodate the
largest cassette in an open position.
• Countertop should be easy to clean.
• Nothing “wet” should be brought to the dry side.
• Fiim hangers for each size film should be hung above the
table on the dry side.

9. A clip film hanger (left) versus a channel film hanger (right). loading film in cassette

10. Wet side of Darkroom
Where actual chemical processing occurs
Hand or manual processing consists of three tanks.
• Developer
• Fixer
• Water
One of most important pieces of equipment is thermometer
when using manual processing.
Processing chemicals must be at certain temperature.

11. Drying area of wet side
• Film drying area can consist of a film drying rack or a drying
cabinet.
• Drying rack should be dust free.

12. A sample dark room layout showing a wet side and a dry
side.

13. Light Leaks
May be hard to perceive.
Common sources of light leaks are from
• Entrance to dark room
• Ceiling
• Adjacent rooms
Walls should be of light color as it gives more reflection to the
safety light.

14. Entrance
• Entrance should have double door or revolving door preferred(see
image on slide no 5)
• Make sure that door fits tightly into its frame.
• Make sure that door LOCKS!

15. Darkroom Safelight
• Appropriate lighting in darkroom is crucial to good fiim
development.
• “Safe” light means light will not affect the film.
• Safelights use a small-wattage bulb and a special filter to
eliminate the blue and green light(because they are of high
intensity)
• Bulb should be 15 watts or less.
• Safelight should never be closer than 4 feet to work
area.(otherwise film fog)

16. Indirect (left) and direct (right) safe lighting for the darkroom.

17. Film Processing Solutions
Film processing consists of these basic steps.
1. Developing
2. Rinsing
3. Fixing
4. Washing
5. Drying

18. Instructions related to chemicals of
darkroom
• Chemicals should be kept at specified room temperature and all
chemicals should have same temprature(otherwise may result in
reticulation of film).
• Should be stirred before use with rod.
• Changed when contaminated.
reticulation(mottled density) of film

19. General Epuipments and PPEs of darkroom
• A timer, which is used to measure the time of each processing
step.
• A pair of scissors, which is used to cut the film to the desired
size.
• A pair of tongs, which is used to handle the film during the
processing.
• A pair of gloves, which is used to protect the hands from the
chemicals and the film.

20. Lets summarize the whole process on
fingertips...
Loading the film in
cassettes
Exposing the film to
x-rays
Unloading the film
from cassettes
Loading the film on
a hanger in dry side
Developing the
film
Rinsing the film
in rinse bath for
30 sec
Fixing the Film
Washing the Film
Drying the film
Only step number 2 is done in x-ray room while
all other steps in darkroom under safelight
Make sure temprature of all chemicals is
optimum and handle films carefully with tongs
and gloves only by edges
labeling and storing of
film in mositure and
light free cabinet

21. Some artifacts during processing errors...
left in fixer under-washed
Quality of films is compromised in these x-ray films!!!!

22. Specific Equipments of a Dark room
Cassette Safelight Hangers
Processing tanks
Film dryer Black box(storage)

23. Some real time photos of Darkroom