Computed radiography or CR uses similar equipment to conventional radiography with the exception that in place of a traditional X-Ray film, an Imaging Plate (IP) made of photostimulable phosphor is used. The IP is housed in a cassette and placed under the part to be examined and an exposure is made with either X or Gamma radiation. Instead of taking an exposed film into a darkroom for developing in chemical tanks or an automatic film processor, the IP is run through a special laser scanner, or CR scanner, that reads and digitizes the image. The digital image can then be viewed and enhanced using software that has functions very similar to other conventional digital image-processing software, such as contrast, brightness, filtration and zoom.
