A major advantage of the CR system compared to the conventional screen/film system is that

the imaging plate is linear and has a large dynamic range between the X-ray exposure and the
relative intensity of the stimulated phosphors. Hence, under a similar X-ray exposure condition,
the image reader is capable of producing images with density resolution comparable or superior
to those from the conventional screen/film system. Since the image reader automatically adjusts
the amount of exposure received by the plate, over- or underexposure within a certain limit
would not affect the appearance of the image. This useful feature can best be explained by the
two examples given in Fig. 6.

In quadrant A of Fig. 6, example I represents the plate exposed to a higher relative exposure
level but with a narrower exposure range (103104). The linear response of the plate after laser
scanning yields a high level but narrow light intensity (photostimulable luminescence, PSL)
range from 103104. These light photons are converted into electronic output signals
representing the latent image stored on the image plate. The image processor senses a narrow
range of electronic signals and selects a special look-up table [the linear line in Fig. 6(B)], which
converts the narrow dynamic range 103104 to a large light relative exposure of 1 to 50 [Fig.
6(B)]. If hardcopy is needed, a large latitude film can be used that covers the dynamic range of
the light exposure from 1 to 50, as shown in quadrant C, these output signals will register the
entire optical density (OD) range from OD 0.2 to OD 2.8 on the film. The total system response
including the imaging plate, the look-up table, and the film subject to this exposure range is
depicted as curve I in quadrant D. The system-response curve, relating the relative exposure on
the plate and the OD of the output film, shows a high gamma value and is quite linear. This
example demonstrates how the system accommodates a high exposure level with a narrow
exposure range.
Consider example II, in which the plate receives a lower exposure level but with wider exposure
range. The CR system automatically selects a different look-up table in the image processor to
accommodate this range of exposure so that the output signals again span the entire light
exposure range form 1 to 50. The system-response curve is shown as curve II in quadrant D.
The key in selecting the correct look-up table is that the range of the exposure has to span the
total light exposure of the film, namely from 1 to 50. It is noted that in both examples, the entire
useful optical density range for diagnostic radiology is utilized.