Radiographic reduction system

Claim 1

A radiographic reduction system comprising means for supporting a photosensitive record film having a dual-gradient contrast characteristic exhibiting a relatively low contrast gradient portion and a relatively higher contrast gradient portion, an unsharp masking apparatus comprising means for generating a moving spot of light, a sheet of radiographic film having an image thereon the density range of which may be as great as 0.0 to 4.0, said radiographic film sheet being supported between said light generating means and said record film, optical means disposed in the light transmission path between said sheet of radiographic film and said record film for producing, at said record film, a reduced size image of the image in said radiographic film as said moving spot passes successively through all incremental portions of said radiographic film image, said unsharp masking apparatus being calibrated to record the film base plus fog density, in said radiographic film sheet, on said record film at a density of approximately 2.0, any image densities in said radiographic film between the partial range of about 0 to approximately 2.0 being recorded on the higher contrast gradient portion said record film characteristic, control means for monitoring the amount of light which has passed through said radiographic film and including means operative to control said moving spot of light to effect unsharp masking of said radiographic film image over said partial range, any image densities in excess of approximately 2.0 in said radiographic film being recorded on the lower contrast gradient portion of said record film characteristic.