Final answer:
An overexposed radiograph is too dark, which can happen due to high exposure settings or prolonged exposure to radiation, resulting in a loss of detail in the image.
Step-by-step explanation:
A radiograph that has been overexposed is too dark. Overexposure in radiography typically occurs when a film is exposed to too much radiation, resulting in a denser, darker image. This can happen if the exposure settings on the X-ray machine are too high or if the film is exposed to radiation for too long. With overexposed radiographs, details can become obscured because the darker areas merge and the finer distinctions in tissue densities are lost. Conversely, an underexposed radiograph would appear too light, with insufficient detail because too little radiation has reached the film. In photography, an overexposed image can appear blown out, where bright parts of the image are rendered as pure white, devoid of any detail. These principles apply to both medical radiographic images, where overexposure can be harmful to patients due to excess radiation, and to photographic film or digital images that are overly bright due to too much light exposure.