A latent image center is large enough to be visible following film processing. During radiographic film development, the silver atoms are reduced to metallic silver. Metallic silver is black. It is metallic silver that imparts blackness to the film. The same pattern of latent image formation occurs when film is exposed by visible light or x-ray photons.
Film processing takes place in a darkroom, since radiographic film is very sensitive to light.
Manual Film Processing Manual processing utilizes wet tanks in the darkroom. There are wet tanks for developing solution, a rinse bath, the fixing solution, and the final rinse. The radiographic film is removed from the film cassette and attached to an x-ray hanger , a stainless steel wire frame that attaches to all four corners of the film. Over the course of the day, the chemicals within each tank will settle. If not stirred, film processing artifacts will occur.