Digital radiography employs a reusable image plate with a light-sensitive phosphorus coating. Exposure to X-rays or gamma rays produces a latent image on this plate, exactly as happens on a film. When the exposed plate is read with the scanner provided, the latent image is converted into a digital image. This eliminates the need for dark rooms or development products.

The digitised images (Lmg files) can be burned onto a CD-ROM. These images can be converted into other file formats (bmp, jpg, etc.) - with very little degradation.) They can therefore be viewed with any commonly available software. A suitable software to view the source files (Lmg) is available. The photosensitive layer of these plates has an extremely wide dynamic spectrum. The result: a high tolerance level in determining the exposure time. This greatly reduces the chances of failed images.

Since the image plates have a very high exposure tolerance, images can be recorded in a single exposure even with extreme variations in material thickness. This is substantially different to the various images that are recorded using different lighting techniques or conventional X-ray films. On an average, the required radiation dose is ten times lower than is the case with a normal X-ray film. The exposure time required is therefore much shorter, and therefore, more images can be recorded. A lighter source of radiation may also be used, thereby greatly reducing the radiation exposure for the operator and for the environment.