Tonal consistency in a radiographic image network

A method of transmitting an input digital radiographic image signal over a network to insure consistent tonal matching, comprising the steps of:

• producing an input digital radiographic image by a source imaging device having a source display device;
• providing a source-to-density look-up-table SDL which represents the characteristic response curve for the source display device and which is determined independently of said produced digital radiographic image;
• transmitting the input digital radiographic image signal over a network to an output radiographic image visualization device along with said SDL;
• and
• including the steps of providing a local density-to-display look-up-table (LDDL) at said output imaging device, cascading said SDL and said LDDL together to form an output device display correction table, and processing said transmitted digital radiographic image signal with said display correction table to produce a tonally corrected visual radiographic image.

A digital radiographic image system, comprising:

• a digital radiographic image input source means for producing a digital radiographic image signal having a source-to-density look-up-table (SDL) associated therewith;
• an output radiographic image visualization means for producing a visual radiographic image of said digital radiographic image signal, said output visualization means having a local density-to-display look-up=table (LDDL);
• and
• network means for linking said digital radiographic image input source means and said output radiographic image visualization means;
• wherein said source means transmits a produced digital radiographic image signal with said associated SDL over said network means to said visualization means;
• wherein said visualization means cascades said transmitted SDL with said LDDL to produce a local display correction table;
• and wherein said visualization means processes said transmitted digital radiographic image signal with said local display correction table to produce said visual radiographic image.