kVp also controls the amount of contrast (the difference between whites and blacks on an image) seen on an x-ray. The amount of contrast visible in an image is referred to as gray scale. – If an image has high contrast, there will be white and black areas on the film, but very few grays in between.

What happens to contrast when you increase kVp?

The more penetrating the radiation. The higher the kVp, the longer the scale of contrast on the film. … Increasing the kVp increases the chances of more scatter or scatter radiation produced…. therefore it decreases Contrast.

What relationship does kVp share with radiographic contrast?

At higher kVp, a greater proportion of Compton scattering occurs compared with x-ray absorption (photoelectric effect), which decreases radiographic contrast. Decreasing the kVp decreases the proportion of Compton scattering and increases radiographic contrast.