What would cause the radiographic image to be blurred?

A blurred radiographic image is primarily caused by movement during the exposure process. When a patient moves—whether it's shifting position or even involuntary movements like breathing—this disrupts the sharpness of the image being captured. The x-ray photons may not be uniformly distributed across the film or digital detector if there is any motion, leading to a loss of clarity and detail in the resultant image.

Although factors like overexposure to developer, using the incorrect film type, or having improper temperatures can impact image quality, they typically cause issues such as fogging, contrast problems, or an inability to capture the intended structures clearly. These issues differ from the direct blurring caused specifically by movement, which is the primary concern for maintaining sharpness in radiographic images. Thus, patient movement during the exposure is the key factor leading to a blurred radiographic image.