American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT) Practice Exam

The conversion of the latent image into a manifested image occurs in the developer solution. When film is exposed to radiation, a latent image is formed within the emulsion layer of the film. This latent image is not visible until it undergoes chemical processing.

In the developer solution, the chemicals reduce the exposed silver halide crystals to metallic silver, which forms the visible image on the film. The developer essentially enhances the latent image, turning it into a visible form that can then be fixed with the fixer solution. The developer is crucial because it selectively reacts with those areas of the film that were exposed to radiation, resulting in the darker areas of the final image.

While exposure and fixing are important steps in the overall process, the actual transformation from latent to manifested image specifically takes place in the developer. Film drying occurs after development and fixing, further solidifying the image but does not contribute to the conversion process itself.