If you are interested in converting your hard copy radiographs into digital files for easier referral, you have basically two options: 1) Buy a film scanner or 2) Take pictures of the radiographs with a digital camera. The two methods are discussed below.

The Film Scanner: Like the document scanner on your computer, an x-ray scanner digitizes hard copies that are placed into the machine (the flatbed scanner for your computer won't have sufficient brightness or resolution). Several types of scanners are available. A system to digitally reproduce radiographs can be acquired for as little as $3,000. Exceptionally good ones can be much more expensive, however.

Taking Digital Pictures of Your Radiographs: It is difficult to acquire diagnostic quality images this way; a lot of practice is necessary. This technique only works if done properly and with a good digital camera. A five megapixel resolution is minimum, ten MP is better. Use the following tips when taking digital pictures of your hard-copy x-rays:

• Make sure your flash is turned off, always. Flash will produce a glare off of the x-ray
• You may want to use a tripod, as the required darkness and lack of flash may result in longer exposure times and consequent blurring of the picture.
• Reduce the ambient light in the room. Room light creates glare and reflection on the surface of the film.
• Block out the light from the view box around the exposed film.
• Focus the picture in close enough that the x-ray fills the viewfinder. If the picture shows the viewbox, it is taken from too far away.
• You may want to take more close-in shots of areas of interest. The camera's macro setting is helpful for focusing this.
• If the resulting picture is too light or too dark, the camera's light sensor might be reading off of the wrong area. Moving the center of the picture over an area of interest might allow the camera to properly adjust the light exposure. If you focus the camera over one field and "lock" the shutter (usually by pressing the shutter button halfway down) you can then move the camera back over the area that you want in the picture and press the shutter button down the rest of the way.
• MOST IMPORTANTLY: Look at the pictures on your computer before you send them in. If they don't look good to you, they're not useful to the radiologist either.