What would be considered a film artifact in radiographic testing?

A film artifact refers to any unintended flaw or imperfection on a radiograph that is not related to the object being inspected but is instead a result of errors or issues during the radiographic process. Light leaks explicitly fall under this definition, as they can introduce additional exposure to the film that results in unwanted images or patterns, thus affecting the overall integrity and clarity of the radiograph.

Light leaks usually occur when the film is not adequately protected from stray light during the loading, processing, or storage stages. This phenomenon can create fogging or other visual distortions on the film, which can mislead the interpretation of results. Recognizing the impact of light leaks as artifacts highlights the importance of proper handling and environmental control in radiographic testing to ensure accurate evaluations of the inspected components.

In contrast, improper exposure, overdevelopment, and insufficient contrast relate more to issues with technique or chemical processing rather than being artifacts. They may affect the quality of the output but do not arise from unintended exposure scenarios characteristic of an artifact.