Which adjustment would increase image contrast on a radiograph?

Which adjustment would increase image contrast on a radiograph?

• A. Increasing SID
• B. Decreased window width
• C. Increased kVp
• D. Increased exposure time

Answer: (B)

In radiographic imaging, the display of gray tones is controlled by the window width setting. A smaller (narrower) window width maps a tighter range of pixel values to the grayscale, so light areas become lighter and dark areas become darker with fewer midtones. This makes differences between tissues more pronounced, increasing image contrast. The other adjustments don’t directly raise contrast: widening the source-to-image distance mainly affects sharpness and magnification rather than contrast; increasing kVp tends to reduce subject contrast because higher energy photons penetrate more evenly and increase scatter; lengthening exposure time changes overall brightness (dose) but not the relative differences between tissues.

In radiographic imaging, the display of gray tones is controlled by the window width setting. A smaller (narrower) window width maps a tighter range of pixel values to the grayscale, so light areas become lighter and dark areas become darker with fewer midtones. This makes differences between tissues more pronounced, increasing image contrast.

The other adjustments don’t directly raise contrast: widening the source-to-image distance mainly affects sharpness and magnification rather than contrast; increasing kVp tends to reduce subject contrast because higher energy photons penetrate more evenly and increase scatter; lengthening exposure time changes overall brightness (dose) but not the relative differences between tissues.