What effect does underdevelopment in the processing of films usually have on the radiograph?

Underdevelopment in the processing of films generally leads to radiographs that exhibit a brown and spotted appearance. This occurs because underdevelopment results in inadequate exposure of the film to the developing chemicals, meaning that the film has not been fully processed to achieve the optimal contrast and clarity.

As the chemicals fail to reach their full potential in developing the latent image on the film, the areas that should appear dark (due to sufficient exposure) may remain light or even unprocessed, leading to uneven density. This lack of proper development can also result in artifacts on the film, contributing to a spotted appearance. The brown coloration can be attributed to improper fixation or insufficient rinsing, which can cause the film to retain developer chemicals that degrade the image over time. Thus, the combination of inadequate development results in radiographs that appear brown and spotted, which is indicative of poor processing techniques.