What is the appearance of a manually processed radiograph that has been dried too quickly by hand?

The appearance of a manually processed radiograph that has been dried too quickly by hand is characterized by a crazed pattern. This phenomenon occurs when the rapid drying process causes stress within the emulsion layer of the film, leading to the formation of fine cracks or crazing lines.

Such rapid drying can happen if a film is placed too close to a heat source or if a fan is used at high speed, causing uneven drying that disrupts the film’s surface. The crazed pattern detracts from the quality of the radiograph, potentially obscuring important diagnostic details and adversely affecting the interpretation of the images.

In contrast, crystalline debris typically arises from improper handling or processing chemicals, and scratches are commonly the result of physical contact with a rough surface. Staining of a specific color, like green, would indicate a chemical contamination issue rather than a drying problem. Thus, the crazed pattern is specifically indicative of the drying error described in the question.